Kato Coupler Review

I received a "handful" of new pre-production Kato couplers at the National Train Show last weekend. Thought I would provide some photos and a mini review for those interested. The couplers are designed to fit in a standard rapido coupler pocket, newer Kato engines, pilots designed for the MT 1015s, and can also be body mounted. The couplers have a number of advantages and just a few problems that hopefully can be rectified before full production.



Advantages:

Most important advantage is the fixed pivot point which eliminates the bounce caused by MT coupler springs which are in line with the direction of the train. This also eliminates almost all of the slack action - very important when MUing locomotives. Compare photos below.






The couplers allow closer coupling than MT.

Have good side to side range of motion - very important for sharp curves.



Are closer to scale size in width, but still have the same vertical height so they stay coupled.

Look more prototypical. That photos are a bit deceiving since the MT’s are weathered while the Kato’s are shiny black. Brown or rust would be a better color to mold these in rather than black.

Centering action is with a metal spring or tab, not plastic as in Acumates.


Problems:

My biggest concern is the size of the coupler pocket for body mounting. It’s too wide. Wheel sets will rub against the pockets when going around sharper curves. I hope they will make the pockets at least as narrow as the MT 1025.

This next one may or not be a problem depending on your quality of track. The couplers have almost no vertical movement at all. On longer locos such as the C44-9 this causes a mismatching of the couplers (one goes higher as the other goes lower) as the engines travel over uneven track. The movement never came close to uncoupling the engines, but it did look a little unusual. This should not be a problem for most cars, especially if truck mounted.


I don’t use uncoupling magnets so I can’t report on how well they uncouple. They seem to couple easily enough although I really have not tested this too much. I only have a couple of sets installed on the C44-9s.

The bounce of N scale cars when switching is probably the most annoying aspect of modeling in N scale. These couplers, along with the acumates will go a long way to squelching that annoyance.

Daryl Kruse

 

Thanks for posting Daryl! They look really good, although it looks like the trip pin is missing (may not be in production at Kato yet). I like the fact that the draft gear box doesn't stick out of the pilot like it does on the MT 2004's when on the Kato -9.

The more the maryer, and maybe since three companys will be competing for the coupler business now (two in my book...I think the Accu Mates are crap) maybe the prices will drop a bit. Well, then again, maybe not, MT just raised their prices a bit.

We can only hope.....

[ 19 July 2001: Message edited by: Craig Martyn ]</p>

 

Yes, you are right about the trip pin. MT pin will fit, but I didn't bother putting them in since I don't use the magnets anyway.

Daryl