Class 350 Farish couplings and springs

[bwj]

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=870595

I started this question in my general thread about topics that newbies face but was advised/gently admonished (!) to start a seperate topic.

So for the Farish Class 350 Desiro, I have identified the coupling parts needed for another coach and the illustrated coach fitted new bogies that run freely.

Problem is that when fitting the bogies one the retaining springs flew away!   

I have spares and have tried fitting with tweezers and a magnifying mirror but find the spring just too fine to manipulate over the tiny hooks! Any tips eg as to which hook to attach first/how to physically manipulate the spring (as soon as it is on one hook, it leaps free like a salmon when you try to attach to the other hook)!  ?

[njee20]

I've tended to hook the coupling end on first, but your finger on it, then hook the body end on. It is hideously fiddly though, and IIRC I've got one 350 without a spring entirely!

[ntpntpntp]

Yup, use the finest tweezers you can find,  hook the spring to the coupling pocket (the moving part) first, retain it with a finger while you then ease the spring onto the hook on the underbody.

I have a set of Parkside tweezers including very fine tipped straight and angled ends, very useful

 

[bwj]

Thanks both.

I have those tweezers somewhere!

[Newportnobby]

Just thinking aloud - would supergluing one end of the spring to one hook before attempting to get it over the second hook work?

[Steven B]

Hook one end of the spring in place. Hold it there with some masking tape or, for a more permanent solution, a dab of glue (as suggested above).

 

[geoffc]

I always make a loop of cotton through one eye and then put a square of masking tape on the other end of the cotton, this makes it easier to find if the spring flies off into space.
I then loop one end of the spring over one hook and I can pull the spring with the cotton over the other hook teasing it in position with a scalpel blade taking care not to cut the cotton.
When it is hooked into position just cut the cotton and gently pull the cotton out.

Geoff

[bwj]

@geoffc

thank you for the great tip - cotton and fine tweezers/scalpel seems to be the way to go

I fear superglue might impinge on the movement of the spring although a small amount of removeable blutack might do a similar job

Will try later (also got 4 Dapol Voyager coaches that need similar spring coupling repairs) and report back!