THOSE PESKY COUPLING SPRINGS

David Asquith · December 19, 2013, 10:17:58 AM

Am a bit frustrated with gear problems at the moment so decided to vac the layout and railway room. Emptied the bag on the vac first so that anything in it would be only from the layout or floor. Afterwards when sifting through the bag found dust, fluff, bits of solder, small pack of small screws, bits of polystyrene, 4 dummy point motors and wait for it - yes just one coupling spring. That I think only because I had tacky waxed it to a coupling. Where have all the others gone? One of lifes (modelling) well documented mysteries.

Dave

Dorsetmike · December 19, 2013, 10:22:20 AM

One tip I picked up was to dip the end of the spring in a blob of superglue and then stick it to the little pip on the coupling.

Dock Shunter · December 19, 2013, 11:37:44 AM

Quote from: ESPANTRAINFAN on December 19, 2013, 10:17:58 AMWhere have all the others gone? One of lifes (modelling) well documented mysteries.

Dave

You never heard of the Carpet Monster, Dave.............

Jack · December 19, 2013, 11:40:44 AM

Quote from: Dorsetmike on December 19, 2013, 10:22:20 AM
One tip I picked up was to dip the end of the spring in a blob of superglue and then stick it to the little pip on the coupling.

I spend part last night doing the very same to a full HST rake as part of the re-livery project that I'm working on. That's one less rake to worry about.

PostModN66 · December 19, 2013, 11:43:24 AM

Those coupling springs look massive to me now after getting to grips with the Dapol Easy-Shunt springs!!

Cheers Jon

David Asquith · December 19, 2013, 12:25:23 PM

Mike,
I had heard of glueing the springs to the couplings but somehow I read superglue but my brain heard epoxy resin, in its more famous brand name, and couldn't be bothered. Problem being having to mix a bit for every spring and doing one loco at a time or having lots of locos/rollong stock stripped and mixing a lot of glue. A recipe for disaster I thought. Anyway thats why I used tacky wax but I'm not sure it would work on every occasion. I will use superglue next time. Doh!
Dockshunter,
The Carpet Monster must be going through ecological change. I don't have carpet in my railway room and in fact none in the house, just a few rugs, because of living in very dusty Spain. Maybe I will have to re-home him with one of you who have carpets. Only thinking of his welfare of course LOL.
Jack,
Seeing as my stock isn't doing much rolling at the moment I might have to start a rolling programme of gluing springs/couplings.
Jon,
I've got enough problems with springs etc this size! Maybe I'm overdue for a visit to Specsavers. The nearest one is only 150 miles away in Benidorm!

Thanks for the replies guys. Some made me smile others gave me support - like a well made truss - so I'm told!

Komata · December 19, 2013, 04:54:48 PM

Ah yes, the incredible flying springs, in pursuit of which we indulge in 'Spring Chasing' - the railway modeller's favourite sport...

By way of a possible solution (and one which I have used after loosing several of these expensive little items)

When assembling couplers (especially the MTL variant, I have found that it is ALWAYS helpful to place a white or cream -coloured DOUBLE BED SHEET over both the table /workbench one is sitting at and the floor in the immediate vicinity.

The Sheet acts as both a 'neutral' backdrop and, because of its large size, as a 'catcher' for the 'escapees'.

As we know, the springs can fly for a considerable way, but, being copper, and of a copper colour (at least in the case of MTL couplers), show-up well on the sheet when they tire of flight and land.

At that stage one merely (but carefully) looks and retrieves the errants.

Hope this helps.

Jack · December 19, 2013, 04:58:29 PM

The easier way of taking couplings apart is by using a large freezer bag, put your hands and coupling inside, no need to upset the misses by using a bed sheet.

David Asquith · December 19, 2013, 05:40:18 PM

fKomata,
Thanks. a good idea but the missus wasn't impressed. I keep getting her thinking she's going senile by taking things she's "sure I left it there" to my railway room anyway! I think they probably fly a little bit further anyway and end up under cupboards and the layout etc. I think we probably need to place ourselves in a bubble of some kind. Mind you I'm sure a lot of people think railway modellers live in a bubble anyway.

Jack,
I think I can get away with taking a freezer bag once in a while. I tried that tip the other day but hadn't got a freezer bag with me so used a bag which was about 9 inches long by 3 inches! Not easy but it did work.
At some stage I'm going to make a spray booth from a big plastic storage box and an extractor fan. Maybe I can put some hand size holes in the lid which would otherwise not be used and take things apart inside the booth. Remembering not to have the fan on of course.

Dave

Sprintex · December 19, 2013, 11:02:11 PM

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6767.0

Paul

David Asquith · December 20, 2013, 09:06:29 AM

Paul,

for the link to your excellent tutorial. Yours was the tutorial I had seen and amendeded in my brain to read epoxy resin! I actually glued some springs to couplings last night but just laid the spring and coupling on the sheet of glass I use for soldering on. Of course they also stuck to the glass but came off quite easily. the couplings The next ones I adapted your idea slightly and put the coupling in my mini bench vice.
The next problem I have is with getting the springs to stay in the pockets while putting both halves of the loco together. I have has springs that have gone outside the pocket without my noticing and becoming damaged. Now that the spring and coupler are joined this is slightly easier. :idea:Thinking ahead If I put the coupler in the vice I can close the loco around the spring. Thats the theory anyway. I'll give it a try tonight and report back

Dave

Chinahand · December 20, 2013, 09:22:25 AM

It adds a whole new meaning to 'Spring Cleaning'.

David Asquith · December 20, 2013, 10:05:00 AM

LOL. Yes you're right. I hate cleaning. Don't mind ballasting!

Dave

RST · December 21, 2013, 01:00:28 PM

Just experienced this for the first time! Who knows where mine went, last one I got a close-up as it shot past my head over my shoulder. Just as well I didn't really need them on that loco! I might see about getting some spares for safe keeping, just in case though LoL.

David Asquith · December 21, 2013, 09:20:58 PM

RST,
Welcome to the WTPSG Club = Wheres that pesky spring gone!. Spares and Paul's tip above are a good idea. I'm sure it won't be the last time

Dave