Where do you get E1 Max & Kato 800/100 Series Couplers?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hi, I am looking for some couplers for the Kato E1 Max series and the Kato 800/100 Series.  The E1 max couplers have the number 4257 on them. These ones are must have has I need to replace 2 damaged ones. Since I am going to be placing an order some where I might as well get some just in case couplers for the Kato 800 Series. The Kato 100 Series appears to be the same coupler as the 100 cars will hook up to the 800 cars.  I can't read the Japanese part list included with the 800 but I think the part number is 4542B. The 100 series part number I think is 2566.

While I am it  I might has well get some couplers for the Sonic 883 Series -Kato 10-485.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Spiff

[cteno4]

Spiff

Katousa will order parts for you from kato Japan. You need to fax them a xerox of the instruction sheet with the part circled. Take 4-8 weeks if they can get it. I ordered a pair of power tucks this way about 6 months ago and it worked wll. Parts cost kato retail price and I think it was $6 for shipping. So it worked. Send an email to Katousa to get the scoop.

Bttrains.com will also try to order parts for you. I think there is a small research surcharg in addition to the part price. you can drop them a email to get the details.

Good luck,

Jeff

[jappomania]

Spare parts for 100/800 is possible, but for E1 is too old release (the last was 10 years ago), is better if you find a junk start or add/on set to transplant the spare parts...
BTW are you sure that E1 Max damage is the coupler? I have some damaged cars but normally is the lower chassis damaged (2 little plastic pins on chassis was broken so the coupler can't fixed on it, verify...)
Sometime I buy on Yahoo, spare parts and junk trains for that reason.

Ciao
Massimo

p.s. for 100 series is less expensive to buy one 2 cars add on set, you pay 2500JPY and you have a lot of spares
(boogies, coupler, one panto, 2 chassis, total price like spare parts is over 5000JPY :-)

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't have a parts list for the E1 so I may be out of luck :-(.  The coupler is definitely damaged as the diaphragm has separated for the portion that attaches to body of the car.

Is there any reason I can't convert the E1 cars to newer couplers such as the ones on the 800?

Spiff   

[cteno4]

spiff,

it sounds like you may have the issue that massimo points out, one of my E1s has this issue. the two tiny pins on the chassis bottom that those hooks on the diaphragm lock into get broken and then the diaphragm just ends up slipping back out. the fix is to get a very small drill set and drill a hole thru the bottom chassis where the pin broke off and then put thru a small piece of a metal pin with the pin head underneath and glue the pin head in well.

i have the E1 instruction sheets, i can scan them for you if you want.

who knows parts may still be on the shelf, might be worth an email to kato. it does not cost anything if they dont have them. elsewise its as missimo says you have to find a junker set to cannibalize for parts.

as for converting to 800 couplers i have never torn the 800 apart to see how similar/different they are to figure if it would be possible or worth it.

those diaphragm couplers were fiddly and broke on a lot of folks, so the only hope is maybe kato did a big spare part run on them!

jeff

[Spaceman Spiff]

Thanks again for the quick replies.

I tried the 800 and 100 couplers and they didn't work. The flat tab portion was just a smidgen off. If I get desperate and cant find the proper coupler, I can try to order a set of the 800 and modify them. I will try to glue the broken parts together and hope for the best.

cteno4, thanks for the offer to scan the parts list. When ever you have time that would be great.

Off to get my fingers covered in superglue lol

Jon

[Spaceman Spiff]

Got the couplers glued but looks like I broke the pins holding the coupler while removing the coupler. I guess I now have a parts E1 car now


Spiff

[cteno4]

spiff,

you can replace those pins like i mentioned with a little piece of straight pin. i did this on one car and have to do it on another. ill see if i can get to fixing mine next week and take some picts of how to do it. its not bad you just need a tiny drill bit set and pin vise (like $5) to make the little hole and some thin pins.

jeff

[Spaceman Spiff]

That would be great.

Thanks

Jon