crosbystills Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Why doesn't Hornby produce a self contained decoupler? i.e: piece of straight track with built in decoupler ramp with motor or motor ready.Decoupler suitable for all Hornby locos, to save all the modification we have to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 What modifications. The ramps they make work. Motorised versions not really necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 I must admit I bought a set of those magnetic couplers, wonderful things. If it is a good idea, someone will come out with one, there are lots of companies that see a gap in the market to make things. I suspect he wants it motorised so he can do it remotely, either by a switch or using DCC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog RJ Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 R8244 Remote Uncoupler, motor not included https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/remote-uncoupler-unit.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 ...decoupler ramp with motor or motor ready. Hornby do do a 'motor ready' version, the R8244 https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/remote-uncoupler-unit.html /media/tinymce_upload/e081d6e66e9167225f08c9d69db5f188.jpg This product is included in the Hornby RailMaster track plan layout tool. So that a DCC address can be assigned to it and operated by clicking a screen decoupler icon. A R8243 point motor and a free Accessory Decoder port is required to make this work in RailMaster. RailMaster has a specific entry in the .INI file to set the 'ramp-up' operating time [the default is 5 secs, but can be edited]. In the absence of RailMaster any free-standing DCC hardware controller can operate it too. The only downside is that it is designed for the R8243 Solenoid point motor. Being 'Surface Mounted' makes it rather unsightly in my opinion. If the layout is DC controlled, then the R8243 can also be operated manually with a switch just like any other Solenoid point motor. EDIT: Others posted whilst I was busy finding an image to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 Being as there are quite a lot of people on this site that don't like solenoid operated point motors (not me), then I assume he was looking for a motor diven one. Sort of thing DCC Concepts make.As I say I am into the magnetic ones, the only issue being NEM sockets are not standard. When Hornby fit them to coaches that are the right size, unfortunately Bachmann ones are too wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 OP is looking for track mounted decouplers not NEM pocket vehicle couplers.As others have said Hornby make these for automatic (sprung), manual (bylever) or motorised (solenoid) operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosbystills Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 I have 5 x R8244's in my layout and I have had to modify every one. The ribs on the ramp are too high for most rolling stock and need to be sanded down. In addition the small feet, meant, I presume, to clip under the rails to keep the decoupler in position are "rubbish" I have super glued all my decouplers in place.There is a need for a dedicated Hornby (dedicated to Hornby rolling stock) decoupler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Only if you only run Hornby rolling stock which I imagine is only a minority of people. I have used both Hornby and Peco uncouplers without a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I am confused, I mention that some people want a motor driven one and that it is of no use to me as I use the magnetic ones even though these cause some issues with NEM couplings. So why the comment? I assume some people want a motor driven one so they can adjust the height, but who knows. As I said in one of my posts, it is probably Dapol or DCC concepts that will come out with one some time. DCC concepts already have the technology to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I have always found the cheap sprung uncouplers work a treat as does the home made piece of springy plastic. None of these things work on my layout now. 3 link couplings are a bit of a pain but look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I have a mixture of new and old stock. Yesterday getting my brand new Dapol Western trying to couple to some old Hornby coaches was difficult and then trying to get them apart afterwards was even more difficult. The biggest issue I have is couplings uncoupling themselves whilst moving. Hence the use of magnetic ones. Back on the original subject, that Hornby one is nearly as old as me, admittedely they have changed the track type several times over that period but the method is still the same. They have modernised it by making it solenoid controlled. Trouble is NEM couplings are higher than the old Hornby ones, so would it work on all types? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Are they higher, maybe they are but if that is the case they wouldn't couple with older types, which they do.The prong under the hook is usually the same distance above track level. Tension lock couplings shouldn't uncouple under tension. Then NEM socket us higher on some rolling stock but then a stepped coupling is used to level things out. Over the years I converted all of my rolling stock to narrow couplings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 No, what I meant was the bar thet extends underneath the coupling is shorter so the end is higher off the ground, than for an old Hornby one (which Hornby still fit to some of their models). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Ah right. In the past I have had to shorten some because they are too long. Don't think they were Hornby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puffed Out Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I have been using 4 of the Hornby R620, Railer/Uncoupler, and they wotk extremely well. No need for wires/switches or motor drives.Plus you get the added benefit of re-railing the odd bogie, or wagon/truck/coach that throws a wobbly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosbystills Posted October 26, 2020 Author Share Posted October 26, 2020 Q: for walkingthedog. Have you used R8244 successfully without modification with Hornby steam locos? If so please tell me how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingthedog Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 I used to. I just used it, not sure what there is to modify. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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