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Removal Kato Ditch Lights

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  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 200 posts
Removal Kato Ditch Lights
Posted by jwar41 on Monday, October 27, 2014 2:49 AM

Want to change out ditch lights on a Kato diesel engine and install smds. Bulb is extreamy tight, are they glued in.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Monday, October 27, 2014 9:22 AM

What scale and which Kato locomotive are you asking about?  For HO, I have several that used only a plastic light guide to transmit the light from a central bulb (or LED) that was also the headlight.

I believe some of the newer models may use individual LEDs for the ditch lights instead of bulbs.

 

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 200 posts
Posted by jwar41 on Monday, October 27, 2014 12:13 PM

It has mini bulbs for ditch lights. However I decided to take a small wire, brake out the back side of the bulb (leaving the glass shell) and install a smd led behind it, glued to the back of the pilot where the hole for the wires come out, on the back side of the pilot.

This leaves the front of the old bulb shell to look like the ditch light lense on the front of the pilot., the led will shine throught it. Finding this is the easiest quick fix that will give a better light intensity.

Anyhow tinkered with it late last night and it works and looks great.

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