Kato GEVOs: Light pipes clear or yellow?

I have been having problems with the newer Kato releases (and FVM) having yellow headlight light pipes instead of clear. This discolors and dims the bright white LEDs on the decoders I use. I have had this problem on the Kato SD-70ACe and the FVM GEVO. I know FVM was going to fix this and has offered clear light pipes as replacement parts, but I don't know about Kato.

Does the Kato GEVO even have the yellow light pipes? I am looking to buy some locos and this will be a deciding factor in my decision.

Thanks,
Jamie

 

Jamie, they are clear on my 2 CSX units. Bob.

 

You can buy replacement light tubes for sd70ace from kato,for their old ones don't know if the new ones came with the new light pipes.

 

Thanks guys! I picked up a BNSF GEVO this afternoon at the GTE show in Norcross, GA. Looking forward to firing it up for a test run later this evening. Jamie

 

I can confirm that they have the clear light pipes and use golden white bulbs. The light is nice and bright on the my UP GEVO, while all mySD70ACEs are extremely dim and hardly provide any illumination. If the Kato ACes were prototype locos, the NTSB would ban them from the rails for being so unsafe!

 

Thanks gang, gave the new GEVO a test run tonight and it looks and runs FANTASTIC. May be the smoothest running out-of-the box loco I have ever owned. The light pipes are indeed clear and show off the golden white LEDs on the stock lightboard nicely, although I can't wait to get a decoder installed with the super-bright white LEDs. Had not planned on buying a locomotive but the GTE show was in town and a dealer had excellent prices and selection. Money well spent thanks to the always reliable advice from the TrainBoard community.

Jamie

 

Jamie, FWIW I hooked my pair up to 75 intermodal cars and they pulled them with no problem. Bob

 

all my 42 kato es44ac have clear light pipes.