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N scale Microtrains cars will not couple with Kato NW2 couplers

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  • Member since
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  • 83 posts
Posted by darrel480 on Thursday, December 12, 2019 6:37 PM

Thanks Chuck.  I'll give it a try.

 

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Posted by trwroute on Thursday, December 12, 2019 6:31 PM

The Micro-Trains 2004 fits the Kato NW2.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

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Posted by darrel480 on Thursday, December 12, 2019 4:41 PM

Thanks all for your input.  Looks like Im stuck with the Kato couplers on the NW2. They have a different mounting than either Atlas or Microtrains and looks like they can not be replaced. Unfortunately Kato engines come with Kato couplers, duh. There is no choice.  I can manually jiggle the couplers with a skewer to both couple and uncouple but its a pain. I am going to try coupling with an Atlas coupler to see if that works.  Thanks Eric White for your input too.  I'm working on building the Red Oak. 

  • Member since
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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, December 12, 2019 4:09 PM

riogrande5761

 

 
Eric White
the solution is to pick one as your standard for the layout and switch out the others.

 

I'm only getting back into N, but do people really standardize with KATO couplers?  Would have throught Microtrains couplers is a no brainer?  

 

Jim,When I was in  N I started coverting my cars with MT couplers to Atlas Accumates.  I could no longer stand the slinky movement of MT couplers at slow switching speeds since it killed all realism.

The Accumates worked quite well for me on my ISLs. I used MT between the rails magnets to uncouple the cars.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by trwroute on Thursday, December 12, 2019 2:55 PM

riogrande5761

 I'm only getting back into N, but do people really standardize with KATO couplers?  Would have throught Microtrains couplers is a no brainer?  

 

 
Yes, Micro-Trains are heads and shoulders above the rest.  I seriously doubt anyone standardizes with Kato couplers.  That was sort of a PC response by Eric.

Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, December 12, 2019 1:35 PM

Eric White
the solution is to pick one as your standard for the layout and switch out the others.

I'm only getting back into N, but do people really standardize with KATO couplers?  Would have throught Microtrains couplers is a no brainer?  

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Eric White on Thursday, December 12, 2019 11:35 AM

Hi Darrel,

Yes, Micro-Trains and Kato couplers often don't play well together.

As mentioned above, the solution is to pick one as your standard for the layout and switch out the others.

Because of their small size, the various brands of N scale knuckle couplers can have more issues of interoperability than those in HO scale.

Eric

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 5:09 PM

I have been out of N scale for a long time, but...

.

Many N scale equipment used to come with "semi-scale" dummy coulpers, that would attach to microtrains couplers. Usually you had to use some pressure to get the cars to couple, and lift one of them off the rails to get them to seperate from one another.

.

If this is what you have, you will need to convert the Kato locomotive to Micro-Trains couplers to get the operation you are after.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 83 posts
N scale Microtrains cars will not couple with Kato NW2 couplers
Posted by darrel480 on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 12:11 PM

Has anyone had trouble getting some microtrains couplers to couple with the couplers on Kato NW2 engine?  The coupler height seem to be ok. Also, once coupled they do not want to uncouple. This happens only on some cars.  Thanks for any help. 

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