Kato Kinematic Couplers

[Mark5]

I noticed this listed on the ad on the back of NSR - is this a new thing?

http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=923505&maxhits=25&go=Search&bool=AND

Anybody have any?

[Mark5]

OK I found this on Kato's site:

http://www.katousa.com/N/Daylight/maint/coupler.html

Seems to be something usable only on certain Kato passenger cars ...

[Bob Bufkin]

They going to have these for the upcoming Broadway Limited cars?  Think they went to these so you can go around sharper curves on your layout.

[Mark5]

They going to have these for the upcoming Broadway Limited cars?  Think they went to these so you can go around sharper curves on your layout.

Cool! I'm lowering my min radius to 8".

[pedro]

I ordered a set direct from Kato and put them on my Daylight. I didn't need them because of radius, I just wanted to see how they made the train look. They do work great. It's a clever design hat I have heard has been used on Japanese passenger releases in the past. They really draw the cars together nicely (about 1.5 or 2mm)  The Daylight looks more like it's supposed to with an almost seamless look.

The only downside is that automatic coupling goes out the window. There isn't any centering spring involved so they tend to float around and need to be lined up by hand. They also seem to "click" together and are not easy to get apart. Not a big deal if (like me) you're doing the roundy-round with the passenger trains and never take them apart. My guess is that this is the reason that they are offered separately instead of stock.

Also important to note is that the stock Kato Daylight truck-mounted couplers are adjustable, something not mentioned anywhere by Kato that I have seen. You can shorten up the drawbar length almost, but not quite, as close as the Kinematic couplers will get you.

Pete D.

[Mark5]

Pedro - great info! Thanks!

[Walkercolt]

What he said.... Look great on the Daylight. Well worth the money no matter what size radii you have.

[seusscaboose]

how hard is the conversion?

[pedro]

how hard is the conversion?

It's not hard, took about 45 minutes for the whole train. Here's the step-by-step: http://www.katousa.com/N/Daylight/maint/coupler.html

Pete

[seusscaboose]

thanks.. sounds like a good oportunity to install light boards with shell off

[bobcat]

How many cars does each box upgrade?

I don't see any specific info and if it is per car, that would be a very pricey option.

[bradb]

How many cars does each box upgrade?

I don't see any specific info and if it is per car, that would be a very pricey option.

According to this page: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=923505&maxhits=25&go=Search&bool=AND

Each set does 10 cars.  So you'd need 2 sets to do a "complete" Daylight.

Very cool, but I guess I'm disappointed that for ~$650 retail on the complete set (including GS4) you still have to pay another $20 for the couplers.

Brad.

[wcfn100]

You only need one set of couplers for the full consist of cars.


Jason

[bobcat]

Thanks.

[DocGeoff]

Thursday evening I finally installed the Kinematic coplers on my Daylight cars. It was an easy job, took about an hour, plus the twenty minutes I spend searching for the diaphragm cover that shot off the three car dinner. The backside of the piece being close to the same color as what is between the tiles on the floor contributed to the length of the search.
Last night I re-worked a section of track that has caused some derailments and then hooked up the 12 cars and WOW!
What a difference in appearance and performance. It is a truly beautiful thing snakeing through the curves, climbing the grades.
Since I don't have my replacement GS4 yet, I pulled the consist with a Kato PA/E9.
I would encourage anyone to switch to the Kinematic couplers.