The Kato Kinematic couplers have shipped to the shops. We received our order yesterday. I did a couple of cars and the installation is not so bad once you get going. Follow the instruction on the Kato site. http://www.katousa.com/N/Daylight/maint/coupler.html
I recieved a set yesterday. I started the install, but can't find and easy way to couple/uncouple. To couple I had to move onto a curve and use needle nose pliers. Uncoupling looks like it will wear out the coupler. I'm gonna call Kato on Monday and ask if they have a coupling tool. If anyone knows of 1 I'd love to hear. Thanks
Chuck from Feather River emailed me last week to let me know that mine are sitting in my box awaiting shipment...just had to wait for my Big Boy to arrive before shipping them.:tb-biggrin:
very easy install on the couplers. Didn't take long at all to change over the entire train. As for coupling and uncoupling the cars, you just have to line up the couplers and push the cars together firmly and they couple just fine. I just pull them apart gently to uncouple and don't seem to cause any problems. Looks like that is how they were intended to work. But using them makes the train look beautiful. On the straight sections of track, the cars are all but touching.
Thanks! My daughter and I actually took them off today and just shortened 1 of the knuckles. We will try the kinematics next time we use the trains. Marty