Kato 11-702 couplers

[ATSF_Ron]

I have an older Kato ATSF freight set that has all Rapido couplers.  I've been meaning to switch these out for a long time.  The F7 has been fitted with Micro Trains couplers, but the freight cars and caboose are still Rapido.  I read on another forum that the 11-702 from Kato can be used as a direct replacement for any Kato freight cars that have Rapidos.  The freight cars in question are tank and covered hoppers, as well as the caboose.  The freight cars don't really lend themselves to body mounting, and I really like the trucks they come with, so a Micro Trains trucks/couplers option is not what I'm looking for.  Has anyone done the 11-702 swap?  Also, I prefer manual uncoupling when switching using a bamboo skewer.  Will the 11-702 work with manual uncoupling?  Thanks!

[Southern1970]

If they are the 70ton ACF covered hoppers then I have done a direct replacement swap with those Kato 11-702 knuckle couplers.  Though those couplers do not really lend themselves to easy uncoupling (I would usuall have to lift one car to uncouple).  I ended up cutting off the truck mounted couplers and installed the micro-trains draft coupler box (cut off from a microtrains truck) and still used the trucks from the covered hopper.  When you remove the trucks you should be able to see a little indentation at the end of the frame that you can drill out with a pin vice.  I’ve done this for all my Kato 2 bay ACF covered hoppers.

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Don’t know about the tank car or caboose as I haven’t done those.

[ATSF_Ron]

Nice! Thx for the pics.  That clarifies things. 👍🏻

[peteski]

Doesn't Kato caboose have body-mounted couplers?

[ATSF_Ron]

Peteski, I believe it does. It’s currently buried at the bottom of a box. I’ll check this weekend.

[ATSF_Ron]

I forgot I had this one in a more accessible spot.  Yep Peteski, they have body mounted couplers.  This one came with the knuckles from the factory.  My ATSF caboose has Rapidos.  Should be an easy swap.

[mecgp7]

ATSF_RON, I have a pile of Kato 11-702s. I sent you a PM.
Clint

[NorsemanJack]

I believe that instead of those archaic 11-702s, you can replace the Rapido's with Kato's current short shank knuckles (923500).  You would need the coupler cover plates (923524) and coil springs (923511) as well.  My Kato business cars came with Rapido's.  I had at one point replaced them with the 11-702s, but later upgraded to the configuration outlined above.  I haven't had to do this with any Kato freight cars, but there is a reasonable possibility that the pockets would be the same.

[ATSF_Ron]

NorsemanJack, is the manual uncoupling better with the later version? If so I may go with those instead.

[NorsemanJack]

NorsemanJack, is the manual uncoupling better with the later version? If so I may go with those instead.

I'm guessing that everything will be better.  Those 11-702s are rigid, oversized and stick out too far.  They were a nice upgrade at the time, but not really a final answer.  The later ones use springs rather than "plastic elasticity" to make the coupler function.  They also look better.

[ATSF_Ron]

Clint, message received and reply sent.  Thank you, friend!