Kato engines

Just curious, I am running Kato n-scale engines on my layout. There is a part where I can have a continuous run for show and was wondering how fast can I run them. This part is relatively flat(very small incline), I have had no problems, they get warm but not hot, and use kato powerpack in DC. At full power on the powerpack (red portion) the trains run fine pulling my long passenger consists. The only thing I have noticed running them is out of the 27 locos a few at this speed whine a little louder, especially the GG-1. Again I have had no issues, but if this could lead to problems well..............

Thanks

 

I would guess you can run them as fast as you like, it shouldn't hurt them as long as the motors stay together. I like to run my trains at scale speeds.

 

Kato engines are great and will give many years of service.

What you describe as a whine is common on these after a few years and is easily corrected.

1. Remove the shell

2. If you can see the worm gears from the top of the mechanism, place a drop of Labelle plastic compatible
gear lube at both ends of each worm gear. Go to step 4. If you can't see the worm gears, go to step 3.

3. Loosen the two screws that hold the frame together and remove both trucks (wheel sets). place a drop
of Labelle plastic compatible gear lube at both ends of each worm gear.

4. Re-install trucks, if there are arrows on the bottom those should point to the ends. Snug up the screws
but not too tight just enough to keep the frames together.

4. Re-test, it should be quieter now.


Brad

My blogs:
http://n-scale-dcc.blogspot.com/
http://www.tokyo-in-nscale.blogspot.com/
http://www.palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/

 

Run them as fast as you like. They are your engines and your railroad. Kato engines are notorious for being speed demons. At full speed you could probably give the starship Enterprise a run for its money. The fact is that prototypical speed in N scale is a lot slower than one might think. One N scale mile is only 33 feet [5280ft/160 = 33 ft] At 60 miles an hour an N scale train will cover 33 feet in exactly one minute. It would take 20 seconds for it to go 11 feet. But, it is your railroad so do as you like.

 

I always use this calculator

http://www.stonysmith.com/railroad/speedcalc.asp

to get train speed.

I use 12 inches as the measured distance and calculate from there. I run freight and find that 2 seconds in 12 inches gives me 54.55 Scale MPH.

Just about right

 

The only real limiting factor for top speed is the track. If you have broad curves and smooth joints, crank it up to eleven. Otherwise, you may end up with something that is closer to model rocketry than model railroading.

Now, as for how long you can run a kato locomotive at a certain speed, that's a more interesting question.

 

Reminds me of what we used to deal with in N Scale... two speeds: "stop" and "fast".

Rule #1 always applies!

 

The "Kato whine" usually goes away after a while. I'm sure the lubricating previously mentioned would speed that up. I have an SD40-2 that makes a different sound, though. It sounds EXACTLY like a dentist's drill. If I put it on the rails, the room clears in less than 10 seconds !!! Me being me, I doubt I will ever change it !!! Being around Stock Cars and Sprint Cars for the last million years, I probably run things a little faster than I should. Can't help it, ya' know ??? I do have a Concor SW that I got in the early '80s, and it is THE fastest locomotive I've ever seen in ANY scale !!! John Force probably wouldn't mess with this thing !!! :teeth:

 

Its Kato track (the new 19" rad) again I use it to show people my different "name trains" you know to show off lolol but when i'm operating the whole layout I use it to run trains between to major stations even thou in reality its just a roundy round, it serves the purpose of "going" somewhere in between the stations while I switch. Just want to make sure I don't harm the engines. This is my first time in n-scale, my first was HO and use to run the hell out of all my Atlas and Athern engines, never had a problem, the cars on the other hand well those I went through like water(my fault)
thanks people for the help.

 

That's why I was pointing out that the length of time running is a bigger worry than how fast; although, I'm not sure how big a problem it is in the first place. Simply put, model locomotives are not designed to maximize heat dissipation.

 

I am a bit hesitant to post this. Don't want anyone to think it's OK to do this !!! Had a buddy who was running his trains and suddenly had to go upstairs and referee his brawling teens. He came back down to the basement to find his 2 Atlas and 2 Kato engines still dutifully pulling their trains. 2 1/2 days later !!! He said the trucks and motors were HOT !!! He could even smell the hot motors !!! He removed the shells and let everything cool. He did a regular chassis lube and everything ran just fine. As DrMb stated, there are NO cooling provisions on our locomotives at all. This guy got very lucky !!! Once again, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME !!!

 

DO NOT TRY THIS ANYWHERE ELSE EITHER!!!!

I think that is "for the win" in terms of endurance testing. The longest time I've ever accidently left something running is only about an hour. It didn't leave the track though! And it was a Kato diesel if I recall correctly.

 

I have run Kato Mikados and MT FTs for 8-9 hours a day, 5 days a week (at a realistic scale speed) around my Christmas Tree at work. No problems year after year.