I have Kato F7 A and B that have rapido couplers. I am planning to convert the couplers to Fox Valley couplers, but I don't see a coupler that works on the front end of the A unit. Even with the rapido, it is a very flimsy coupler and not up to connecting to a consist of any size. Is there a substantial coupler that works in the front of the A unit?
Micro-Trains' website is a little confusing to me on the Kato F-7 conversion, but I see M-T 2004-1 (New 001 02 052) for the front couplers maybe? Perhaps others can help clearify. I did the conversion on my Kato F-3s long ago and it worked out real well. I'll see if I can find the package I used.
I have the first issue. That's the one with the truck mounted coupler on the rear of the A units and both ends of the B units. I used a MT 2004 on the front of the A unit and a Unimate "T" shank coupler on the rear of the A units and both ends of the B units. Easy conversion. Sometime in a later issue the truck mounted coupler was changed to a body mount. That made the conversion a tad more difficult.
Do you have the original release F-7's-? If so -- the Micro Trains conversion for the "A" units is/was their number 1159 (It has a replacement mount for the front coupler - so that the 1015 coupler can be used). Unfortunately, Micro Trains has long since discontinued this conversion -- For newer versions of Kato's F-7's -- MT # 2004 should work. Regards, Wolf
According to Spookshow, my units are produced between 1995 and 1999 since they have the plastic trucks with rapido couplers. Not sure how my model coincides with the MT models.
All of the Kato Fs still use truck mounted on the rear of the As and both ends of Bs. All of the front pilot couplers on the As are body mount on the Kato Fs
