By mistake I bought a Kato 10-819 NOTO 489 series add-on car set of 4, not knowing that it has body mount Kato 11-731 (I think) close-couple type couplers. I have no locomotive with that type of coupler. Is there a way I can replace one of these 'close' couplers on a car with an ordinary type Kato knuckle coupler? A Japanese modeler on YouTube did try to help, I quote him, "You have to replace the snow plow assembly on the front car to 4697-2c3 to replace the dummy coupler." But this coupler is not available here in the US and is out of stock on the Japanese sites too. Kato USA has a few trucks with couplers and separate body mount couplers as well, but I am not equipped to understand if any of them will be suitable. I am posting the Kato USA parts list below http://search.cartserver.com/search...e&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND I am also attaching a pic of the underside of a Kato 10-819 car, showing the truck and the coupler. I would appreciate if a suitable coupler or truck with coupler could please be suggested. I don't model prototypical so anything works as long as the engine can couple and navigate the curves. Thanks, Krish
If the original coupler is a T shank coupler then the 11-702 should be drop in replacement. This is a two piece coupler that either comes in grey or black. If the original coupler fits over a mounting pin in the coupler box then it will be part number 923502S which is their magnetic knuckle coupler.
Krish, I have some these and like yours it was a add on set. When I was in Japan I rode on cars like these from Toyota City to Nagoya and my daughter who works for the same company I did, picked me up some when she went to Japan. What she didn't know was that they were unpowered. And like you, finding that they had a coupler unlike anything I had or could find, I just put them in a display cabinet until her next trip where she can pick me up a powered set to pull them with or I think MTS may have them from time to time or ebay. (she does a fantastic job taking care of her dad when it comes bringing me back trains from her trips). I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out for you. Best of luck! Ralph
Well, Kato's U.S. prototype rolling stock doesn't have those couplers. Those are prototypical for Japanese passenger trains.
It looks like part number 800002 might work, because it looks like it has similar mounting, but I certainly can't tell for sure.
Well forget what I said, I got a look at the couplers and they are unlike anything I have dealt with with Kato. CSX Robert may be on the right track
Thanks Robert. At least a start. I am going to wait for some more time, to see if others might be able to provide a definitive opinion. If not, I will go ahead and order 800002 and give it a try.
Would one of those passenger trucks with extended couplers (something like the 800125) also work? I could order the 800002 and a couple of those, if you think that it could work. As I said I am not prototypical minded so one wrong truck will not matter as long as it works! http://search.cartserver.com/search...e&maxhits=100&go=List+Parts&bool=AND&bool=AND
Kato USA said that they will get me the coupler from Japan, it might just take time depending on when their next sea shipment comes in. Now the next question. Could I please be helped with how to unassemble the car and remove the existing body mount coupler? Thanks.
