N scale Microtrains cars will not couple with Kato NW2 couplers

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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-Kevin

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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

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.

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.

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.

The Micro-Trains 2004 fits the Kato NW2.

Thanks Chuck. I’ll give it a try.