Broken Mk1 CCT van

[ohlavache]

Hello.
A few days ago, I tried to split the body and the chassis of a Graham Farish Mk1 CCT van (ref. 374-642) and to also change the couplers.
The result is that I destroyed one coupler (the system enabling the move and extension of the coupling underneath the wagon) and I didn't find any way to open the wagon.
Some help would be welcome.

Thanks !

[exmouthcraig]

I bought a few of these in blue to repaint.

Firstly get yourself some plastic pry bars for opening mobile phones, non marking and brilliant for this, the problem is the CCT is short and so mid body flex isn't that great.

Using a suitable container (2L ice cream tubs are good) turn wagon upside down and lever the centre of the chassis to body sidebar, work left and right, the chassis lugs fit into the glazing panels!

Once one side is free the ends should drop enough to work round to the other side, any bits that fall out, ie axles land in the box and not in the carpet!!

The coupling extension section relies on 1 piece of wire thinner than human hair! It is elliptical and allows the coupling box to return to its shortened state in the centre of the chassis.

I never bothered taken photos when I did mine and dont fancy stripping them as my paint is only a few days old at the moment.

If you just want to change the couplings I found, lay the wagon on its side on a piece of foam to not scratch it, push your thumb against coupling box to keep it extended to the buffer beam and pull coupling using tweezers, replacement is exactly the opposite, keeping pressure on the box until it seats home on both sides.

Hopefully something useful in there for you 

[Railwaygun]

phone repair kits ( Ebay)

https://tinyurl.com/y5j9987s