Yes, the magnets are powerful being rated at +5000 gauss.
The key is to “crack” the two smaller clasping magnets apart with two thumbs centered in the middle, and the fingers on the opposite outside ends as if you were snapping a pencil in half.
Pulling them apart would not work as you have discovered!
The first week or so I also had dramatic size fluctuations of both the penis and ballsack. For this reason, it is recommended to test the fit for a few days before deciding to shorten the silicone tubing to avoid making the fit too tight.
