Kato #4 Turnouts

The Mississppi Valley N Scalers provide details on modifying the Kato #4 turnouts to operate a little more reliably.

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Video

N Scale Kato #4 turnout Modification
(Video Link, 9 Minutes)
Mike Fifer from Fifer Hobby Supply walks through the steps necessary to modify a Kato #4 turnout to improve reliability and operation.

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Photos

(JPG, 2MB Download)
The stock rail is marked with a Sharpie exactly where the switch rail hits the stock rail.

(JPG, 2MB Download)
The stock rail is slid out, exposing the Sharpie mark and allowing you to file a notch in the rail. The first time a rail is pulled out, it may take a considerable amount of force. Please use caution so as not to injure yourself or those around you.

(JPG, 2MB Download)
A modified Kato #4 turnout.

(JPG, 2MB Download)
A modified Kato #4 turnout, showing how the switch rail is now recessed inside the stock rail. Only the straight stock rail was notched as the problem does not appear to occur on the curved stock rail.