Decoupler not decoupling - can I cheat this part off my rocket?

[THX1138]

In the screenshot there is a small docking port (where a satellite used to be) on top of a large decoupler. I want to deploy the decoupler so that the engine can be used on my upside-down lander. The decoupler sends the small docking port hurtling away but the decoupler housing itself and the engine shroud stay on the engine and although the engine's jet of gas is visible and appears unobstructed, it doesn't actually provide any thrust. Is this my fault? I don't think it is!

I'd rather not waste my lander (and disappoint the enclosed Kerbal) by having to cancel this part of the mission!

(click to enlarge)

Edited December 23, 2014 by THX1138

[lextacy]

there is a mod that can blow off parts on your ship, I cant recall the name right off bat....I think its called Blow Off

[Xavven]

Hm... did you mean to use a stack separator instead? Your decoupler is aligned in such a way as to stay attached to the engine, fairing and all. I can tell because of the way the red triangle is pointing. If you haven't researched stack separators yet, then you can create a makeshift one by putting two decouplers in series with the red triangles pointing away from each other. Either way, I am sorry to say that in my opinion, you made a design mistake.

[Ziff]

In the screenshot there is a small docking port (where a satellite used to be) on top of a large decoupler. I want to deploy the decoupler so that the engine can be used on my upside-down lander. The decoupler sends the small docking port hurtling away but the decoupler housing itself and the engine shroud stay on the engine and although the engine's jet of gas is visible and appears unobstructed, it doesn't actually provide any thrust. Is this my fault? I don't think it is!

Well, I can't tell you how to fix it but I can tell you what happened. Decouplers essentially decouple whatever is below them. The red triangle should point towards whatever part is becoming active. The flat part shows what part it stays attached to. That's why when you decouple it detaches the docking port. You can flip it over or in the future you can use a separator, which detaches on both sides.

[Yukon0009]

explosive decoupling. Simply fire up the Poodle engine and overheat the decoupler. i always end up doing this.

[Claw]

You have it installed upside down. The arrow should point at the piece that you want it to detach from. So there's not a "legit" way to get it off now.

If Youkon's suggestion doesn't workout, you could also try "Whack-a-kerbal." You enable it by pressing ALT+F12 to get to the debug menu. Go to Cheats and click on "Show Whack A Kerbal." The follow the instructions on the little pop up window.

I recommend making a quicksave before you try this, and it may take a couple of attempts to get it right (it's kind of hard to control).

Good luck,

~Claw

[THX1138]

explosive decoupling. Simply fire up the Poodle engine and overheat the decoupler. i always end up doing this.

I guess this engine (Poodle) isn't powerful enough because that's not happening.

I'm now elbow deep in save game code but it's not very user friendly!

Jeb has a suggestion! Perhaps I can ram the decoupler into something!(?)

[THX1138]

Guys!! I did it! With inspiration from Yukon0009, I set the temperature of the part to 4000 and when I took control of the ship from the tracking station the part was gone with the sound of an explosion!

I tried just deleting the part but that seemed to delete most of the ship and Mun itself but I noticed a setting called temp which I changed from -200 to 4000 to eliminate that part.

If you try anything like this remember to back up your save first!

PART

{

name = decoupler1-2

cid = 4293964322

uid = 1491830223

mid = 3243267515

launchID = 15

parent = 103

position = 0,6.12854385375977,0

rotation = 0,0,0,1

mirror = 1,1,1

symMethod = Radial

istg = 1

dstg = 1

sqor = 1

sidx = 1

attm = 0

srfN = None, -1

attN = bottom, 103

attN = top, 105

mass = 0.4

temp = -200.0064

expt = 0.5

state = 0

connected = True

attached = True

flag = NASAmission/Flags/NASA

rTrf = decoupler1-2

modCost = 0

[THX1138]

If Youkon's suggestion doesn't workout, you could also try "Whack-a-kerbal." You enable it by pressing ALT+F12 to get to the debug menu. Go to Cheats and click on "Show Whack A Kerbal." The follow the instructions on the little pop up window.

I recommend making a quicksave before you try this, and it may take a couple of attempts to get it right (it's kind of hard to control).

Somehow I didn't notice your reply. Whack-a-Kerbal sounds like great fun but doesn't seem to do anything. I guess "MMB" is meant to be middle mouse button, right? Nothing seems to happen when I press it.

[cicatrix]

If you're not sure - use a separator, not a decoupler

There's a difference - while a decoupler stays attached to the one of the decoupled stages, a separator remains alone and separates from its both ends. The drawback is - it remains floating there forever as debris.

[OhioBob]

The drawback is - it remains floating there forever as debris.

You can always terminate it in the Tracking Station.