Decoupling problem... invisible strut?

[TUFOM]

Mission description I will not give yet because I am trying something funky. But this experiment will fail horribly if I can't overcome this bug. Ion engine decouples (no decoupler there) with the my "K-RING WarpDrive". Ofcourse hard way would be start over but I truly hope you guys can help! =)

Pictures of problem:

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Edit: in third picture stage that is connected to ion engine is decoupled. (ofcourse before decoupling the ring)

Edit2: if I stage ring parts separately ion engine will always leave with left part of the ring.

Edited February 3, 2014 by TUFOM

[Taki117]

That looks more like a Kraken attack than anything since there doesn't appear to be any reason why the Ion Engine should decouple, or come loose from, the center.

[TUFOM]

Darn kraken messes up my biggest experiment since mega ssto... -.- Now if this is truly mighty krakens return can you or someone think way around this withouth starting mission again? Now I have quicksave in exact moment where I should try this and its pretty time consuming start again. Only thing what comes to my mind is to try slam left ring part to ejected transfer stage but that is long shot.

[Taki117]

Darn kraken messes up my biggest experiment since mega ssto... -.- Now if this is truly mighty krakens return can you or someone think way around this withouth starting mission again? Now I have quicksave in exact moment where I should try this and its pretty time consuming start again. Only thing what comes to my mind is to try slam left ring part to ejected transfer stage but that is long shot.

The Kraken is, and always shall be, do not taunt the Kraken. but honestly, without a mod there is no way to add struts in space (Which might help) but honestly, why use the ion engine at all? What's it for?

[Claw]

Makes me sort of wonder if it is a symmetry bug. Does that left side happen to be the first (or last) item placed by symmetry? Like when you attach 4 parts, but sometimes the icons show a stack of three and a single one. I've had strange things happen with that.

Maybe also try placing the ion engine on an inline decoupler to see if that breaks the connection. (Just don't decouple it!)

And I have had phantom struts following my craft some distance away, but I could see them. Only thing I could do was disconnect and reconnect them all to clear it out.

[Claw]

Darn kraken messes up my biggest experiment since mega ssto... -.- Now if this is truly mighty krakens return can you or someone think way around this withouth starting mission again? Now I have quicksave in exact moment where I should try this and its pretty time consuming start again. Only thing what comes to my mind is to try slam left ring part to ejected transfer stage but that is long shot.

Oh, I see. I missed the "want to do it in-flight" part.

Another idea: (Recommend making a copy of your quicksave.)

-Try releasing some (or one) decoupler at a time and quick save/reload in between each.

-Maybe try having some rotation (in different directions) when you release.

[TUFOM]

Thank you for suggestions I will try all of them. "why use the ion engine at all? What's it for?" As I stated this is experiment and ion engine is there of reason.