Kato PA-1 Questions

I have a first-generation Con Cor PA-1 that was made by kato. I would like to repower it with a new kato PA-1 mechanism. Will it work just looking at it with out taking apart it appears to look the same. Has anyone done it or know it it would work or if there would have to be modifications done and how extensive are they.

Any help or thoughts would be greatly apperciated

Thanks Larry

 

Haven't tried it, but there's an important difference you'll need to resolve. The ConCor PA has a truck-mounted pilot and front coupler, while the Kato PA has a body mounted pilot and front coupler. If you use the ConCor shell on the Kato chassis, you'll need to figure out how to body mount the pilot and front coupler.

 

Body mounting the old Con-Cor/Kato is not a problem. Remove the pilot from the truck - glue it to the body. Cut the truck mount coupler off -

And -


As for will the old body fit on the mechanism - ? Sorry, I don't know. I haven't tried it.

Best regards,
Wolf

 

did the pilot snap off the old truck or did you have to cut it off

Thanks Larry

 

The pilot is a separate piece clamped between the metal truck frame and the plastic bottom/sideframe piece. Once the 4 screws and the plastic outer frame are removed the pilot slides right off. The wheels and coupler are also free to escape though, so keep an eye on them!

 

Cool thanks everybody for your help

 

Have a few of them and what's the best DCC decoder for one?
rich