Took delivery a few weeks ago on a set of eight Bethgon Coalporters, CSX, and a single Athearn Bethgon Coalporter, CSX. I went to couple them together on a test track a couple of nights ago, and as I lifted one car up to slip its coupler over the other then lower it, I noticed frequently that upper coupler would rotate upward about ninety degrees. They never popped out, but it in addition to being rather annoying, it slowed down my making up of the train. I looked closely, and when looking down at the coupler/coupler “box,” from above, I could see the coupler spring quite clearly, as if the coupler box was missing a cover. Every single one in the box is like that. On the Athearn, the spring was fully enclosed. Unsurprisingly, it lacked the tendency to rotate upward. I this a “feature” of Kato rolling stock? This is my first Kato rodeo.
First off, I've never seen a Kato coupler that required the "lift and lower" coupling method.......all that I've ever seen could simply be pushed together. Were these new cars or used? I have one Kato car I could lay my hands on quickly........It was converted from Kato/Rapido couplers to unimates/Red Caboose couplers. It exhibits what you are describing. What you are describing is NOT a Kato feature.
I don't lift one over the other - in my experience, if I just push them together with a fair amount of force they will usually couple. If that doesn't work, I lightly push them together and kind of wiggle them around until they couple. Both couplers will tend to rotate up as you push them together, but as you wiggle them around they will fall down and couple. Still not as fast as my other knuckle couplers, but a lot faster than lifting one over the other and then having to get the wheels back on the track.
Mountian Man, I have several sets of these cars and your couplers are normal, meaning that's the way they are made. If you look at closely at the coupler head you will notice that the knuckel does not open or close like most other couplers, i.e. Micro-Trains or Accumates like Atlas products come with. I have gotten used to lifting them one over the other to couple the train. They do move up and down like you said, but wiggling or pushing them down with a dowl or finger works too. You can find YouTube videos where people convert them to M/T's, at least on the ends to better couple with other brands being used on non-Kato locomotives. Once coupled they do stay together and the spring tension used on the trucks underneath help keep the trucks centered to make lifting them over eaiser. Also what CSX Robert does works excellent also and you may find that easier. Ralph
This is another case where one picture would say a thousand words and let the folks know what you are talking about especially coupler types. A lot of Kato stuff come with Rapido couplers. And as far as the Kato made couplers there are at least 3 different types that I know of. I use the 11-702 and 11-707 and they both couple fine with each other and with MTs with just a push. Their magnetic knuckle coupler does not play well with others and have to be modified to work well. It has an old stock number of 9235025.
Did a little research and the Kato Coal Porters came with dummy couplers installed. That would require a lift to couple. There is a solution here in this video and actually two low cost solutions.
As I mentioned before, you do not need to lift them to couple them, nor do you need to use the rerailer ramp. Just bump them together with a little more force than normal. Sometimes you may have to bump them together a few times or wiggle them around as you do, but I've never had to pick one up over the other and it never takes more than a few seconds.
I used the Kato 11-702 couplers to couple my passenger trains as a low cost alternative to MT conversions. I was not satisfied with the result both in coupling distance as well as operation. Too many break aways. I have since switched to the Unimate medium shank couplers that are available from Fox Valley. Ran a thirteen car Concor fluted side Budd passenger car train most of Saturday with out a single breakaway. As the above video points out coupling can be a pain but once coupled they stay together. Coupling is so close that no diaphragms are needed. I was running on the Ntrak red line with 27" radius curves but they will negotiate smaller Unitrack curves also. The Kato coupler in the video looks a lot like a Unimate coupler.
That video was painful to watch. He provided the cure for which there is no known disease. That's the internet for ya'....
