SDP40Fs now arriving

[MRLX1020]

My question is why would anyone (unless they want the magnetic uncoupling) replace the latest version of Kato couplers with Micro Trains?
Especially on dedicated passenger power?

I find these new style of Kato couplers (CZ and up) to be bulletproof in all operating environments that I've encountered.

Thanks for enlightening me!

[peteski]

By "new" do you mean the 2nd version (introduced probably about 10 years ago)?  Or is this some new coupler?  I looked at my SDP40F and it looked like the regular Kato coupler.  Bulletproof?  I find those very unreliable with unscheduled uncoupling (especially when there is a slack on them while going through crosspvers (S-curves), even on well-laid track.  While the subject does not come up often, others also have similar experience.

I demonstrated the problem to a Kato rep at last Springfield show and he took photos and even a video of my demonstration. He said that he would discuss the problem with Kato design engineers.

I would love to have a drop-in MTL coupler conversion for the passenger cast and I even lobbied for it, but it is not to be.  Too bad as I would buy quite few of them.

[nkalanaga]

I liked them when they were new.  Of course, I also liked the GN/BN F45s, so these fit right in, visually.  Kind of missed the GN/NP/BN Fs that had been pulling the EB, but they resurfaced as freight units, in fresh BN paint, which was even better.

[mcjaco]

By "new" do you mean the 2nd version (introduced probably about 10 years ago)?  Or is this some new coupler?  I looked at my SDP40F and it looked like the regular Kato coupler.  Bulletproof?  I find those very unreliable with unscheduled uncoupling (especially when there is a slack on them while going through crosspvers (S-curves), even on well-laid track.  While the subject does not come up often, others also have similar experience.

I demonstrated the problem to a Kato rep at last Springfield show and he took photos and even a video of my demonstration. He said that he would discuss the problem with Kato design engineers.

I would love to have a drop-in MTL coupler conversion for the passenger cast and I even lobbied for it, but it is not to be.  Too bad as I would buy quite few of them.

I've run a 13 car Superliner Empire Builder with the stock Kato couplers for almost ten years on Modutrak.  Times it's uncoupled?  ZERO.

My five car Hiawatha with a powered F40 Cabbage, and P42 speed matched at each end, times uncoupled?  ZERO. 

They're overscaled, but they work.

[peteski]

I've run a 13 car Superliner Empire Builder with the stock Kato couplers for almost ten years on Modutrak.  Times it's uncoupled?  ZERO.

My five car Hiawatha with a powered F40 Cabbage, and P42 speed matched at each end, times uncoupled?  ZERO. 

They're overscaled, but they work.

Well, lucky you!  Sure they are oversize, but so are MTL couplers or Rapidos.

Have you ran your reliably-coupled train through an S-curve (like a crossover) while there is slack on the couplers?  That is when the unscheduled uncouplings occur most often. But even a certain types of jerking moves can do that too.  Both of those conditions can occur during running (to the dismay of the N scale passengers).

[Missaberoad]

I have experienced the unwanted uncouplings Pete describes with my Cal Zephyr. I will say however that these couplers are WAAAYYYY better then the last version (gen 2 I think) of the Kato coupler that came with the original corrugated side Budd cars.

[nuno81291]

The same as the amfleets? Ran 8 car trains of those on the club layout with crossovers and never heard of them derailing. In fact I hated trying to uncouple them during ops (yes we have passenger facilities/yard etc) because they may as well be glued together... Surprised to hear that complaint if they are the same couplers

[peteski]

The same as the amfleets? Ran 8 car trains of those on the club layout with crossovers and never heard of them derailing. In fact I hated trying to uncouple them during ops (yes we have passenger facilities/yard etc) because they may as well be glued together... Surprised to hear that complaint if they are the same couplers

Yes, they are pain to uncouple when you want to, but they also uncouple by themselves when they shouldn't.  Believe it or not.  As I mentioned, it usually happens on S-curves while in slack. That is when the couplers shift sideways (each coupler going in the opposite direction).  That is not something you would ever do while trying to uncouple them manually.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I have the eleven car Super and a thirteen car El Cap sets, run them on 18" curves, grades up to 3%, and through #7 Atlas crossovers and even some #5 staging yard turnouts and have never once experienced an unwanted uncoupling. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it doesn't happen on my layout and hence it a non-issue for me. Since these are dedicated train sets not interchanged with other equipment, I'd rather spend my time, money and energy on other things and coupler issues rather than replacing the relatively small-ish Kato couplers. But I am looking forward to testing the new True-scale coupler, on other passenger trains, currently equipped with M/T's.... and I may put it on the tail end of the Super Chief observation...
Otto K.

[CBQ Fan]

I have every major Kato passenger set release and I back them all into my passenger terminal stub tracks and they work flawlessly.  The only cars I have problems with consistently are my Rapido cars.  I can't replace the Rapido cars fast enough, if Kato would just do a Northern Pacific set.

[nuno81291]

I'm having a hard time picturing a scenario where you could have slack on them during movement peteski? Would you care to elaborate or have a video of the scenario? Not trying to discredit you at all just genuinely curious as I always found these couplers to be the most bomb proof of any of the n scale couplers I have dealt with.

[peteski]

I'm having a hard time picturing a scenario where you could have slack on them during movement peteski? Would you care to elaborate or have a video of the scenario? Not trying to discredit you at all just genuinely curious as I always found these couplers to be the most bomb proof of any of the n scale couplers I have dealt with.

Once our round-robin operating group gets back together for operating in the Fall, I'll see if I can take a video.  I'll also take a video of me manually uncoupling the couplers with a sideways motion. While doing the same motion MTL couplers stay coupled.  I'll start a separate thread on this.

Here is a thread from the A-board about problems with Kato couplers.  I know there were more but the search engine times out when I do the searches.

[mcjaco]

Well, lucky you!  Sure they are oversize, but so are MTL couplers or Rapidos.

Have you ran your reliably-coupled train through an S-curve (like a crossover) while there is slack on the couplers?  That is when the unscheduled uncouplings occur most often. But even a certain types of jerking moves can do that too.  Both of those conditions can occur during running (to the dismay of the N scale passengers).

An S curve on Modutrak?  I think not!   

[peteski]

An S curve on Modutrak?  I think not!   

Ha!  No Modutrak here - I run my Kato passenger cars on NTRAK and on private layouts.   
As far as S-curves go, any crossover is an S-curve.

[wcfn100]

As far as S-curves go, any crossover is an S-curve.

No, not any.

Jason