Kato HO 1-702A Couplers

[Jack]

When I remove the shell I see screws going down thorugh the chassis. Are these the screws that hold the coupler boxes in place? Want to replace with Kadee couplers. What NEM number coupler do these engines use. tHANKS

[Kamome]

Unless Kato have changed the design from my older version (1-701) the snowploughs unclip with 2 securing lugs from the underside. The coupler housing is then exposed. You don’t actually need to remove the body to do this.  These locos don’t have NEM pockets so the NEM Kadees are no use. They have a kadee size gear box for the coupler. I do find some need to be shimmed a little to avoid coupler droop. Think i used a trimmed down gearbox that came with the No. 58s

 

Easiest options are Kadee No. 5 or a similar “scale head” coupler like 58 or 158 which I tend to favour. 

Think Kadee short shank couplers magnet bar fouls the snowplough.