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Kato Coupling Problems
Eddie asks:
“I’ve got several Kato cars that are causing no end of trouble to couple and uncouple. Admittedly they are N scale so are small and fiddly. Removing them from the track is the easiest way to uncouple them, but putting them back on the track when coupled is tricky. I see there are several brands online… if I replace my Kato couplers which brand would work best?”
To assist Eddie please share your suggestions and comments under this post.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
I use Kadee myself and I really like them.
Im surprised by your response: there are no Kadee couplers available for Nscale. I have gone to microtrains
Russel is on the right track but in the wrong gauge. The Micro-Trains couplers were originally Kadee but Kadee decided to focus on HO and sold the N scale line to Micro-Trains several years ago.
While there are several brands to choose from, probably the most commonly used are from Micro Trains. They are readily available from any reputable train store. Whichever brand you go for, it is usually best to have all your locos and rolling stock using the same ones. To ease the costs, keep one car with a ne coupler on one end and the Kato coupler on the other end. This ill give you the “link” so you can still use all your cars.
I agree with Dale. The easiest way to replace them would be to buy Micro trains trucks with integrated couplers. Just swap out the trucks and you are good to go, assuming you are replacing truck mounted couplers. Pay attention, though, to any passenger cars or exceptionally long freight cars. Those will need long shanked couplers.