LGB uncoupling tool

S

Simon Potter

Srpott40
Hi

I was just wondering what tools people use to uncouple two carriages etc,

Currently on my railway, when im doing a bit of shunting i use, a flat ended screw driver to try to get between the coupling to try and push the middle bit down. Although this works okish, i was wondering what tool/ homemade objects others use. as nobody seems to make a tool designed for this job.

When i do get a chance to go to a model rail expedition every one seems to use something different!


Thanks for your help
 
I use cocktail stirrers , the black plastic 'lolly pop' type that you get at pubs etc, they have a good long handle, the round end is quite thin but strong, you can cut them off flat to make it easier to hit the couplings. Next time you are out in the pub , look for some discarded ones, the ladies never need them once they have stired their 'bloody Mary'
Dave
 
Tanker man said:
I use cocktail stirrers , the black plastic 'lolly pop' type that you get at pubs etc, they have a good long handle, the round end is quite thin but strong, you can cut them off flat to make it easier to hit the couplings. Next time you are out in the pub , look for some discarded ones, the ladies never need them once they have stired their 'bloody Mary'
Dave
Click to expand...

That is what i currently use, although i do find that occasionally it does not fit in the gap!
 
I have an uncoupling device made from half a credit card mounted onto a stick, just push down on both the hooks between the coupler and drive the train away.

Uncoupler.jpg

Uncoupler 1.jpg

Uncoupler 2.jpg
 
Time to once again plug the "GizTool", so named for Gizzy on this forum who came up with the design and provided the plant labelling stakes that they are made from......

GizTools.jpg

This pic shows the effective length of Gizzy's tool........ :eek:

GizTool length.jpg

Simply scrounge a suitable labelling stake from your local garden centre, cut off the flat panel where they write the plant details and prices, then trim down the end as shown; in use it's exactly the same as the credit-card-on-stick method above (push-down-and-twist), but it has the advantage of retaining a pointy end with which you can poke at small children and other recalicitrant members of the unwashed public who get too close to your layout at exhibitions..... :rofl:

GizTool use.2.jpg


Jon.

(Apologies about the cr*p photos, they were way too dark when taken and efforts to lighten them enough to see what was actually going on resulted in this.....)
 
You can use the 'keyfob' loyalty card you have in your pocket, on your car keys..

A couple of plastic plant labels, taped together, give you a straight and pointed end, and are very thin but strong..

I have seen similar made from a piece of printed circuit board.. The disadvantage with this, is the copper can short the track. - Though you do have to be really ham-fisted to do it!
 
PhilP said:
I have seen similar made from a piece of printed circuit board.. The disadvantage with this, is the copper can short the track. - Though you do have to be really ham-fisted to do it!
Click to expand...

Especially on an analogue system with the train stationary! :rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
Here's mine. A piece of 5mm diameter dowel with a slot cut in the end. A triangle cut from a shower gel bottle, or similar, is glued into the slot. The bottom working end of the piece of thin plastic/polythene has a cut out - some of my stock has hooks both ends and they have a habit of pointing in slightly different directions when you want to part them. The bits at each side ensure you capture both and as the vehicles are pulled away from each other both hooks come together. As you push down on the couplers the plastic is thin enough to permit the hooks to clear the coupling bar on the opposing coupler. Just ease the tool out as you feel the pressure from the hook(s). Sounds complicated but it's actually a doddle.IMG_20161209_194654_1481312868877_1.JPG
 
I use a wide bladed paint scraper. My son is a painter, and he will leave things laying around.....
I use the same tool for packing/tamping my track ballast. And, guess what, you can actually use it to scrape paint. :wasntme:
 
Just a bit of straight wire. never found the need for a wider 'spade' bit.
I did push a bit of wire into a small tube as a handle. Cost about a penny!
 
image.jpg Here is one of my uncouplers. Stainless steel sculpting tool, plastic tube over the handle to prevent shorting out if the tool is inadvertently left on the track.
 
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I use Table Knifes, the type with the look alike Horn Handles . There is no better thing to use in my view. The blades are Metal (usually best Stainless Steel so can be left out in the Garden) and easily attach to Magnetic Tool Holders and are not Sharpe enough to damage the Coupling Hook on LGB Couplings. This Stations supply can be made out in this Picture. I source them cheeply from Boot Sales, though most Houses probably have one or two stashed in the Loft or Kitchen.
image.jpeg
JonD
 
casey jones snr said:
View attachment 217338 I still have four of the Glendale Junction uncouplers. They really are very useful.
Click to expand...
Andy Rush had one of these as does Iterious. I find them a little on the Thick Side to me fully flexible enough. I inherited Andy's one, but it had suffered from many Years of being left out in the Garden and finally disintegrated.
JonD
 
Zerogee said:
This pic shows the effective length of Gizzy's tool........ :eek:
Click to expand...
Oo err Missus :D :rofl: :tmi:
I just used to open my wallet and use one of the plastic cards in there (they didn't take cash). Now you can probably get an app for your smartphone to do the job :rolleyes:
 
All of the above are excellent ways to accomplish the task at hand. The only difference in my device is that I use a telescoping rod, not unlike an automobile antenna of days gone by. I purchased it at harbor Freight for about five dollars. It originally had a magnet on it's end, used for picking up small metal objects that hands could not easily reach. I took the magnet off and pop riveted a piece of sheet metal to the end, about the size of a credit card.

It fits in my pocket and allows me to extend it so I don't have to bend down to uncouple cars.
 
Madman said:
All of the above are excellent ways to accomplish the task at hand. The only difference in my device is that I use a telescoping rod, not unlike an automobile antenna of days gone by. I purchased it at harbor Freight for about five dollars. It originally had a magnet on it's end, used for picking up small metal objects that hands could not easily reach. I took the magnet off and pop riveted a piece of sheet metal to the end, about the size of a credit card.

It fits in my pocket and allows me to extend it so I don't have to bend down to uncouple cars.
Click to expand...


That's a very good idea, Dan, I picked up one of these telescoping magnetic dropped-thingummy-picker-uppers from Rapid's trade counter a while back for a couple of quid, this is an excellent use for one!

Jon.
 
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