New Kato power chassis

[Chris333]

The Kato 4 wheel power chassis has been around forever and now it seems they have re-designed it. This video is not in English, but it shows the old compared to the new chassis. Don't forget the chassis is in a car not the loco.

[Chris333]

Translated the Youtube text and it reads:

New power unit with pocket line! Realizes smooth running from ultra-low speeds. Uses a coreless motor. Driving performance is improved by applying the suspension mechanism.

[peteski]

Nice!  It does have good slow speed, and I'm sure that the "suspension" will make positive difference in electric pickup.  I wonder how much it will cost?

So now I'll have to ditch all the old chassis I squirreled away for years, and get the new ones? 

[up1950s]

I bet this center slab mass is more weight . Not sure if the " pockets inside out " look of the slab can be reduced at all . A skirted side sill like the GE44T has would work . As a gas tank on a two axle chassis , it would have non stop transcontinental abilities . Love the running improvements . Gotta get me some .

[Point353]

The revised mechanism power unit is shown as part of either a freight or passenger set.
Prices convert to in the range of $40-50.

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/chibiloco

[up1950s]

That's great news , thanks for that info . I want it even more now that the saddle bags are NOT part of the mechanism .

[peteski]

The revised mechanism power unit is shown as part of either a freight or passenger set.
Prices convert to in the range of $40-50.

My hope is that they will sell the power chassis as a standalone unit, like they have been doing with the one, and with all the other "critter type" chassis.

[randgust]

That looks like the replacement for the Kato 11-103/104.   Same size.

The stiff frame on those with four wheel pickup has always been a problem.   I did a trackmobile on one and it was very good, but that fixed frame suspension basically meant only three of four points really touched at any time so electrical pickup was iffy and simply impossible if you had any insulated frogs.   I had to add a pickup car to really make it reliable.   It also had 42" wheels, rather big, that could be swapped with the 27" wheels off the 11-105.

Considering the genius of wiper-based pickups and spring equalization in the 11-105's, caboose trucks, locomotives, etc., this was the odd man out for design -  no end axles, wipers, and stiff.   So I'd think this is a good thing.   The motor is really low, don't assume that 'tank' is there except to hold the motor in place.    The original had no metal casting at all, just an add-on weight.

I hope that they keep that motor though.  The five-pole in that chassis is one of the nicer, smaller, and more inexpensive ones out there.

[DKS]

Good news, except the problem I see with these is the deep flanges. I'll bet they can't handle Code 40 rail...

[peteski]

I hope that they keep that motor though.  The five-pole in that chassis is one of the nicer, smaller, and more inexpensive ones out there.

They might be using their new coreless motors (which are even smaller than the original motor).

[Point353]

They might be using their new coreless motors (which are even smaller than the original motor).

If you can read Japanese - or use the google translate function - on the Kato webpage linked above, the first line under 'main features' states "adopted a power unit using a small coreless motor".

[up1950s]

Maybe the New owner / employee of NWSL will do replacement wheels for this .

[peteski]

If you can read Japanese - or use the google translate function - on the Kato webpage linked above, the first line under 'main features' states "adopted a power unit using a small coreless motor".

Thanks!  So they did totally revamp this chassis. Excellent fodder for all sorts of projects!

[Chris333]

Translated the Youtube text and it reads:

New power unit with pocket line! Realizes smooth running from ultra-low speeds. Uses a coreless motor. Driving performance is improved by applying the suspension mechanism.

[peteski]

New power unit with pocket line! Realizes smooth running from ultra-low speeds. Uses a coreless motor. Driving performance is improved by applying the suspension mechanism.

LOL! That's why I thought it had a coreless motor - I read the 2nd post in this thread, right after you posted it. Senior moment . . .