Kato #4 breakthrough!!


dgrafix

dgrafix

Well-Known Member
Hi I'm back after a long period of disappointment and head scratching over my #4s. All of katos stuff if top notch but the 4s are infamously BAD.

The problem is that the switchrod/switch rail assembly has a very weak spring and vibrates out of whack derailing the train, especially the 3 axle trucks. (and in many cases the frog needs tightening/re sitting)

I have read loads on this about people taking them apart or hacking up #6s for the right gap, but I was loathe to cut up such expensive things. Then I realised that the switch rail is ferrous.

By putting 2 tiny neodyne magnets at opposite poles either side they work to both hold the rail in place, magnetising the switch rail to also oppose the other one.
Getting the position right totally depends on the magnets and you don't want them too strong otherwise the switch won't switch and you don't want to damage the rails or interfere with anything in the trains.

So I experimented in these red and blue (opposing pole) zones to find the sweet spot by temp-tacking with a tiny bit of superglue. For my magnets the sweet spot was here:

1000005607.jpg

1000005606.jpg

Once tested and happy I re-enforced them with a bit of 2 part epoxy as superglue+vibrations won't last.

I am so happy as I really was tempted to start from scratch and not use them. But since the fix I have NOT had 1 derailment in over at least 50 alternating passes 😄 (Before it was more like 1 in 5 with my 3-axle bogie & steam trains)
 
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Rico said:
That’s a great solution Dan!
Click to expand...
It helps but I would still say Kato needs to put a notch in the wall of the outer tracks. I had one derailment after posting this but that was the other direction.
It's one of those double Z #4 boards. But one direction is working great at least. I will mostly be running clockwise anyway.
 
freescopesdad said:
Do those magnets have a strength or size rating of any kind? Else we could experiment as you did, or use exactly the same magnets. Source? Amazon?
Ron
Click to expand...

I bought them from a company called Panduro, but not sure if they export:
https://www.skapamer.se/stark-magnet-5-mm-10-st (you should be able to translate it)
They are definitely neodynium though, no techspec on them i can see.

PS: These look similar, not sure if they are as strong or not;
titan-magnetics.com

Mini Disc Neodymium Magnets 5mm dia x 1mm 20pcs/pack

Mini Disc Neodymium Magnets 5mm dia x 1mm 20pcs/pack, art and craft magnets, cheap neodymium magnets
titan-magnetics.com titan-magnetics.com
You can always use 2 if not strong enough (side by side, not stacked, you sont want them interferering with the trucks)
 
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You can get the magnets online om many different dimensions. Just search "neodymium button magnets". I buy them in 25s or 50s for use in containers to keep them stuck together in a well car. You and also get them at any Harbor Freight store in the US but you do not have a lot of sizes available.
 
I just thought of something.. if you have some goggles, a strong vice and wanna live dangerously then slowly crushing a neodynium magnet will produce lots of little weaker smaller ones as they are super brittle... but as i say (disclaimer) PPE is hightly recommended as they can literraly explode😆
(Although most of it sticks to the vice... and anytrhing else metal.... light fittings... etc, (but you certainly don't want it in you))
But dont heat them or hit them as it kills the magnetism... as does crushing them but hey is all in one go. I would not even bother trying a hacksaw.
 
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