Coupler Compatability?

Are the new atlas and kato knuckle style couples compatable with micro trains? I plan on converting all to MT's eventually, but just wanted to know it they would work until I get around to it...Thanks

 

The Atlas and Kato knuckle couplers will work with MicroTrains couplers. However, in my humble opinion, they are no where near as good as MicroTrains products. (Just an opinion, please don't throw me to the wolves! )

 

This has been my experience as well. I have had some difficulties with the Atlas couplers uncoupling from Micro-trains ones. The Kato ones are OK but not as nice as MT's.

 

OK... now I feel like an idiot... I've read a bit about couplers but never paid much attention to the whole subject. Today, I received a LL GP-20 I bought that has MT couplers installed. I discovered that these don't work with anything I have..... So....

What does it take to change them out?.... what does it cost? How hard of a job is it? I love the look of the MT's. I want to change out everything I have now.

 

It's not cheap but it will be well worth the money and time to change your equipment to Micro Trains couplers. Maybe check some hobby shop web sites to get an idea what the cost will be like. Remember, you don't have to convert everything at once. Try making a conversion car that has MicroTrains on one end and the couplers you now have on the other end. That will buy you all the time you could ever want to make conversions. I still run a car like that so I can still run something new while it is awaiting conversion. I'm sure a lot of others here can do a good job of describing the reliability of the MicroTrains products.

 

To Guppyman,
It is not a hard job to change a LL gp-20 to Microtrains couplers.
Beleive me I am a newbe and I have done the conversion in 5 minutes.
First be sure to get the Microtrains 1015-1 body mount coupler.
Second turn your Geep upside down.
You will see on both front and rear couplers there is a retaining clip that holds the coupler.
Use your fingers to press the retainer from the outer side of the geep to the inner side and pull the retainer out.
After the retainer is pulled out the existing coupler can be slide out from the coupler box.
The small cupper strip that sits under the existing coupler can be throwed away because you don't need it anymore.
Then slide the Microtrains 1015-1 in the coupler box and line the hole in the middle of the coupler with the hole in the geep.
Push the retainer which has a small pin in the center trough the hole of the MT in the geep and you're done with one end of the geep.
The same for the other end.
Sometimes you need the shim included in the 1015-1 set to shim the coupler down, but I did not need it with the LL GP-20. (Microtrains sells a coupler height gauge to check the height of the couplers, when you have to change a lot of couplers it is a good investment)
I hope my explination is clear to you,because I live in a Dutch speaking country and English is not my mothers language.

Paul

 

Paul,
You did an excellent job of explaining that!

Guppyman,
The 1015-1 that Paul talks about is pre-assembled so it does make the conversion very quick and very easy. If you get just plain 1015s, then you will have to assemble them prior to installation and that does take longer.

 

I still like the new Kato magnetic couplers. They have a minor height mistmatch problem and do not release well with MicroTrains RDA couplers because the RDAs are "fatter" than standard MT couplers.... but they hold on to the uncoupling pins and have no "bounce" to them because they have a fixed pivot mounting. The metal coil spring is very durable and will not wear out. The appearance of the coupler is better than MT or Accumate.
Alas, Kato did not "get" the concept of selling couplers for aftermarket use so, at least so far, only has them available on their models and in limited quantities as repair parts.
No straight shank versions nor offset versions that have the correct offset to fit older Kato models are available.
Charlie