Replacing Kato couplers with MT couplers?

[mike_lawyer]

My dad is having some problems on his layout with a Kato diesel that will uncouple from Atlas and MT cars at various times.  He was wondering if anyone has experience or tips on converting Kato couplers to MT couplers.  He would like to swap out the stock Kato coupler for an MT coupler if possible.

[nickelplate759]

There are MT conversions for a great many Kato diesels.  Which Kato model does he need to convert?

[mike_lawyer]

There are MT conversions for a great many Kato diesels.  Which Kato model does he need to convert?

It is a Kato SD70MAC model.  I will check around to see if there is an MT conversion for it.

[EL3632]

It is a Kato SD70MAC model.  I will check around to see if there is an MT conversion for it.

Micro-Trains recommends the 2004 style replacement couplers for this (and most other Kato) locomotives. There is an already assembled version, the 2004-1, and a ten pack, 2004-1-10.
This will definitely help if the problem is occuring around curves as the MT couplers swing easier than the Kato couplers, the Kato spring is more rigid and takes a lot of effort to move when the MT couplers on cars don't have that much swing to give.

[peteski]

In my experience Kato couplers in general have unscheduled uncoupling problem.  Especially on s-curves when there is a slack between cars. From what I can tell, this is because unlike MTL or other couplers, the "finger" part of the knuckle  is very shallow.

I demonstrated how easy then uncouple several years ago to a Kato rep. at a Springfield show. He even took a video with his phone, but I guess Kato engineers don't think it is a problem (or don't want to redesign the coupler and redo the molds).  I  find it unusual since Kato always strives for perfection.

[mu26aeh]

Maybe they feel most Kato equipment only couples to other Kato equipment.  Anyone else can deal with that problem 😁

[peteski]

Maybe they feel most Kato equipment only couples to other Kato equipment.  Anyone else can deal with that problem 😁

In the case I described the uncoupling happen with all Kato equipment.  Amtrak P42, and passenger cars.  Also not the original Kato knuckle couplers, but the revised version and no trip pins installed (as those were rumored to cause the problem).

[Dwight in Toronto]

I concur wholeheartedly with Peteski … I have several Kato locomotives that occasionally uncouple themselves on curves.  One minute they are intimately consisted, the next they are a few centimetres apart.  So disappointing, given how faithful, durable and reliable Kato products are in just about every other aspect.

The variety and disparity in coupler design remains my single biggest complaint, frustration, and turn-off with N scale modeling … absolutely drives me nuts!

[altohorn25]

The first thing I do when I purchase a Kato locomotive (even before switching it to DCC) is change the couplers. 

On a side note, I tend to leave them on the Kato passenger cars, but I snip the little nubbin on the knuckle off the head end cars that normally would be likely to couple either to locomotives or to other brands of passenger cars.  If I don't do this, it makes it very difficult for them (the Kato couplers) to mate with either MT or unimate couplers that I run on my locomotives.

[mike_lawyer]

Thanks guys for all of the help.  I have ordered some of the MT 2004s and plan to install them.  My dad has one unit, and I have another, so we are going to swap the Kato couplers out on both of them.

[peteski]

Over the years I have lobbied MTL (including speaking to CEO Eric Smith at the Springfield show) about having MTL produce a drop-in coupler conversion for all those truck-mounted Kato couplers as that would to me be a game changer.  I seem to recall that I even gave Eric a Kato passenger car truck for research, but they don't seem to be interested.   Right @MTLJoe  ?

[Albert in N]

   I own a Kato SD70MAC with couplers converted successfiully to MTL 1015-1 (001 02 003) and have also used same couplers on one of my SD70M s.  This requires some careful filing on the locomotive coupler slot to fit the 1015-1 couplers since the MTL pocket is a little wide.  Also you will need to drill and screw in the MTL coupler body to the locomotive shell.  I have tried to convert Kato SD70M s with MTL 2004-1 (001 02-052) and found it does fit nicely, but the coupler sits so high that it over rides anything coupled to it.  Yes, the recommended MTL 2004-1 will fit nicely on some Kato SD40-2 and Kato NW-2 locomotives, but it is likely to sit too high.  However, I did recently purchase two new Kato SD70M locomotives in SP speed lettering.  I tried MTL Z & Nn3 905 (002 02 021) short shank body mount couplers and I like the result.  No filing was needed and I attached them with the Kato coupler clip after removing the Kato leaf spring and coupler.  The Z scale coupler is as close to scale (smaller) as the original Kato coupler and sits level and couples readily to MTL freight cars.  The two locos are closer together when coupled and look really good.  However, some stretching is need to couple back to back (as in the photo) but no problem at all when coupled elephant style (cab to rear of adjacent locomotive).  If you run back to back (like the photo), you can drill and screw in the MTL body to adjust the coupler distance.
If you need for me to take a few closeup photos of the coupler area of my SD70MAC or a SD70M in better lighting, let me know.  Thanks for looking. 

[samusi01]

A fairly large number of Kato locomotives that I have are run with MTL 2003 couplers. More or less the 1015 in a 2004 box, but requiring a few extra steps to assemble. Just glanced at the 70 series (70M, MAC, ACe) and the few that aren't 2003 are 1015 couplers in a 2004 box.

[DiggerDownUnder]

This is all timely and interesting. I currently have a pair of KATO 44-9s that I run back to back on our T-Track modules where the second loco will derail going through small radius S bends on one module. Not my module. I have been thinking installing some longer shank couplers that normally come with the locos but these were pre-loved units and were not in the cases. I also have issues with ATSF passenger cars that seem to want to uncouple from each other, randomly, even going on straights. I have noticed that these are ALL lower that the MT Coupler gauge.

So watching with interest.

David

[jagged ben]

A fairly large number of Kato locomotives that I have are run with MTL 2003 couplers. More or less the 1015 in a 2004 box, but requiring a few extra steps to assemble. Just glanced at the 70 series (70M, MAC, ACe) and the few that aren't 2003 are 1015 couplers in a 2004 box.

This is correct, for most Kato models from the last 20 years.  2004 box fits but the knuckles on the 'underslung' shanks end up too high.  I use 1015 shanks in 2004 boxes.  The complete 2004 only actually works for few 90s vintage Dash 9s and SD40-2s and such.