I've always thought that KATO put out top quality stuff -- until today. Maybe someone can correct me and say I am wrong. Have never done any KATO bashing but today ... different story and not feeling so good about KATO. Again, maybe I'm wrong. Purchased two sets of the "Corrugated Passenger Cars" 106-1603 and 106-1603 last month. Put them on the layout and immediate had coupler problems. They came uncoupled and free wheeled down a tiny grade. I left a couple of messages some time ago and someone was kind enough to say that I should try to replace the newer couplers (which they said gives some trouble) with 11-702 (the older original couplers). Waited for KATO to send them, they arrived and I was ready to replace couplers on all 8 cars. The first car went fairly smoothly, only destroyed one coupler in assembling it, but hey, that's the reason for ordering extras. The instruction said "be careful with the spring." Okay, next car -- wait NO springs in the coupler, the next 7 cars did NOT have any springs in the coupler. Out of those two sets, there was only one car that had springs in the coupler. Is that correct. If there are not suppose to have springs, why where they in one and one half car. Does anyone know of this set? Aren't they all suppose to have springs in the couplers. I've checked my "Smooth Passenger Cars" and the coupling system is different enough as to not allow me to make reasonable conclusion. If those cars are not suppose to have springs in the couplers, WHY does one of the cars and a coupler on another car have them. Thanks in advance
As far as I know the cars are ALL supposed to have springs. Perhaps this was the problem with the cars uncoupling in the first place!! Frankly I would contact KATO and let them know and ask either for a new set of cars or at least springs for the cars. I will tell you this, I was all set to buy two sets and I started hearing of all KINDS of trouble with the cars, not just from your original post but elsewhere as well. Either KATO had a bad batch, or they were rushed to delivery against some competitor coming out with a similar set. Perhaps runs of these things will get better in the future, because I KNOW KATO produces high quality materials and would be embarrassed by this problem. Good luck and Happy Modeling!! John
Thanks John for the reply, and helping confirm that I wasn't completely crazy. You are probably right, that the problem in the first place was the lack of springs. Talked to the hobby shop that I bought them at and he said he would be calling them today. I've always been so pleased with KATO's products that this was a discouragement. As a side issue. I finally learned how to change the couplers on their SD-40's which makes them run so much better, but that's another situation that sort of made me a bit discouraged.
I hope the folks at your hobby shop can clear this up for you!! I have not, as yet, had the "pleasure" of changing out couples of any kind, but I know the day is coming soon! Good luck, and let us know how it turns out. Happy Modeling!! John
It's my understanding that KATO is working on a new coupler. The current one was done as a stop-gap messure. They are aware of it's problems, the current one is based on their first "bump" coupler but retooled to give it a more "North American" appearance. It doesn't work as well as the original, as we all know. The couplers on the new Con-Cor Budd cars as just as bad, if not worse. If I were to get any of these cars, KATO or C-C, I'd put Micro-Trains under them anyway. [ 06 February 2001: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]
Confirming the fact that KATO is working on the solution. Called them today, got a very responsive answer about the Corrugated Passengers cars. The recognize the problem and there isn't a solution yet. I told him that there were springs in some of the couplers and his response was "which one" because none of the couplers have springs in them. No springs in any couplers on the Corrugated Passengers Cars. He said that I should try the 11-702 (older KATO couplers) on that equipment and see if it improves. He confirmed it all by saying, he has the same set as I do, and there is bad de-coupling problem. KATO does not know exactly when the problem will be solved. As a side issue we talked about the miserable body mounted couplers versus the truck mounted on the SD-40's and the suggestion was to use MicroTrains 2004's. The 2001 can be used (long shanks) but the look isn't as good, plus the 2004 need assembly.
There was a post about this on another board when these cars first came out and everyone was changing the couplers to MT's to rectify it. Hope it works out! Russ - The Hoffman Valley RR
Problem about 90% solved with the couplers on the Corrugated Passenger cars. As stated earlier, I did replace all the couplers with the older style 11-702. But still had trouble with two cars. Watched them closely and could not figure it out until a friend (non-railroader) said, "the sides of the cars are not the same. Now I don't know how to explain it modelling wise, but here goes. The edge of the car right above the trucks on all the cars, except two of them, were cut a little bit to allow the truck wider turning radii or movement, whereas the other two had straight body, preventing the truck from turning. With an exacto knife I trimmed a notch out to give the truck more movement and BANG, no more problems. It's been frustrating but a wonderful and growing experience. Thanks guys for all the input, every bit of information you gave me will be put to use, now or later.
