Tomix Type "C" Switcher

[donzi]

Tomix Type “C” Switcher
Next in queue for MT coupler swap is this Tomix switcher.
Bought this little lokie over a decade ago, used, at a train show. No Jewel Case, no information, just thought it looked cool.
Originally equipped with Rapido’s, previous owner swapped in Unimates.
Anyone have any experience with this lokie and might know or have a WAG as to which MT coupler it might take?
Otherwise I’ll have to wing it, trial and error, till I find something compatible.

[ChicagoNW]

I’ve been really disappointed with MT T-shank couplers. In many of my installations the couplers drooped and weren’t very good at connecting to any other knuckle couplers.

I would keep the Unimates.

ORRRR…

Replace them with Kato 11-702 couplers. While they don’t uncouple with magnets, they DO couple like the MicroTrains couplers. Your favorite bamboo skewer or uncoupling tool works fine with them. Kato originally designed the 11-702 for their passenger cars to couple with MTs. I’ve used them on anything made since 1968 using a T-shank. No need for the spring. Sometimes the T is thick, but a little sanding fixes that. The T twists right into most talgo truck coupler “boxes”.

[donzi]

I'll find a home for it at some industry switching empties and loads so Unimates are not an option. I just finished swapping 12 Kato lokies to MT's so putting Kato couplers on this one is also not an option. Kind of defeats the purpose. The end goal is to equip all motive power to MT's. Right now, I'm considering some obscure (to me) coupler from looking on the MT site, something with an MT7 or MT9 Shank. Just hoped somebody would have actually converted one of these, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel coupler again.

But thanks for the input.

[ChicagoNW]

This is MTs information…
https://www.micro-trains.com/index.p...scription=true

From my experience, my best results were longer springs that were from other trucks. Unfortunately I can’t remember which brand. They might have even been Tomix. Mehano? But its coils weren’t uniform. They were definitely machine-made. The center coils had wider spacing than the ends. Kinda like this ||\\\\\ \ \ \\\\\||. Stretching springs doesn’t produce such a pattern. (I tried that too) Tougher to insert, but the extra length pushed harder making the couplers less floppy.

Might I suggest Osato Chemicals and Engineering (Japanese: 大里系列) for the industry? Well known for their Monosodium Glutamate and liquid Oxygen products.

[donzi]

Osato Chemicals and Engineering (Japanese: 大里系列)

Yeah... will have to number it 11

[donzi]

Success!
I wound up using a MT7 short knuckle (from an 1128) with a regular Rapido coupler spring. Had to use a needle file to narrow the shafts. It’s a hair low but not enough to hurt anything. That was one conversion I wasn’t looking forward to and kept putting it off for years. Very glad it’s finally finished. Only launched and lost two springs, I heard them hit the back of my desk but have yet to find either.

[ChicagoNW]

Congratulations