I tried a search, nothing. So here we go again, what MT coupler did you use on the Kato F3A? MT sats 2000 (incl. 2004) and 1128. Anyone tried this. The Kato couplers are rather still and do not seem to want to uncouple over the magnets. Thanks. Jerry
Do the Kato couplers have the metal pins? I have seen them with and without. Also there are older type Kato couplers that were not designed for magnetic uncoupling. The 1128 will work if you have the patience to get it in right. I never liked the coupling distance between units when 1128s were used. I don't use magnetic uncoupling so usually install short Unimate couplers there. On the pilot of the newer F units, I believe the 2000 series are the ones you want. On the older engines you had to cut away some of the pilot and use 1015-16s. It was always a pain to get them in.
Jerry: I use a MT #2004 on the front of the "A" unit of the Kato F-3. I leave the original Kato Couplers between the "A" and "B" units and on the back of the "B" unit. The Kato couplers are magnetic on the new F-3's I usually run my two sets of Kato F-3's as A-B-B-A units. That is why I only change the front of each "A" unit. Assembling the MT # 1128's are a royal pain anyways and not worth the effort. [ 02. September 2004, 23:58: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]
I have an ABBA set; managed to get one MT on the pilot on both A's and put Unimates with holes drilled in the shanks for between the units. Great close coupling with those short shanks!
First, these are the newest F3As with the new automatic Kato couplers. As usual they are too stiff. I went back to the MT website and dug deeper. Found they recommend the 2000-1 conversion kit with a MT2004 and an 1128. I have several 2004s, so cannabalized a pair from a Kato RS-2 and they drop right in. I have an old F7A with the 1128 on the back and it went in okay and still works. (It has of course been years since, so I don't remember all the pain it caused me to install it. I use a rix pix and the magnets. I have one on the main that is always breaking the train, so it will have to be moved. Thanks. Jerry
