When Springs fly...

[diezmon]

So, getting back into things lately and updating rolling stock.  I'm remembering what a nightmare it is assembling MT couplers.      I must have blocked this pain from my memory

I even bought the little jig, on a whim, because why not?   It didn't really help much.  My shop floor is becoming more springy by the day.  Also when assembling the 1015s, the jig squeezes the box so it's hard to get the lid on.

This topic has probably been done to death, but, tips, suggestions, on not throwing the whole thing across the room after losing two springs?    (yes, aside from buying them pre-assembled)   

[C855B]

And the answer is... True Scale Couplers. No springs, you spend more time carefully cutting them off the sprues than snapping them together. Nice system. Incompatible with everything else, but, hey, you can't have it all.

Think "Carnegie Hall" - practice, practice, practice. I have one of the jigs, too, and eventually came to the conclusion it was a waste of money. The only tip I can offer is truly a "tip" - using the point of an X-Acto blade to handle the springs. They'll still launch if you jiggle the shanks while inserting the spring or putting the lid on, but that's why you get extras in the little capsule.

[strummer]

FWIW

I find that, (while using the jig) I insert the spring and hold it in place with a set of tweezers, before removing the x-acto knife, it works just fine.

I honestly can't remember the last time I had a spring fly off from the jig; I think it works very well...without it, as I posted recently, I'd still be using Rapido couplers. 

Mark in Oregon

[diezmon]

i'll have to go through some springs, i guess.    I use the exacto tip, and then then end of my tweezers to hold it in.  I dunno, sometimes it just wants to spring away... damn little things.   

[peteski]

i'll have to go through some springs, i guess.    I use the exacto tip, and then then end of my tweezers to hold it in.  I dunno, sometimes it just wants to spring away... damn little things.   

Assemble them inside a large plastic bag?  Or set up a temporary work area in your bathtub. That way you will be able to easily find those springs (make sure to have the drain covered).    I had a friend who painted his models in the bathtub. Don't ask . . .

Not sure why you switch from knife to tweezers. When I assemble my 1023s and 1015s I just use the tip of the knife to insert the spring.

[mmagliaro]

Put a tiny drop on the tip of a toothpick, touch it inside the coupler box where one end of the spring will go,
then insert the spring with the Xacto blade like you've been doing.
It takes almost nothing to keep the spring in place and as long as you don't overdo it, it will not affect the spring at all.
I believe I remember seeing something about that in a Micro Trains instruction sheet once.

[wazzou]

Put a tiny drop on the tip of a toothpick, touch it inside the coupler box where one end of the spring will go,
then insert the spring with the Xacto blade like you've been doing.
It takes almost nothing to keep the spring in place and as long as you don't overdo it, it will not affect the spring at all.
I believe I remember seeing something about that in a Micro Trains instruction sheet once.

Drop of what?   

[diezmon]

Not sure why you switch from knife to tweezers. When I assemble my 1023s and 1015s I just use the tip of the knife to insert the spring.

I use them both.. I've found I can't slide the spring off the tip once it's in the slot, and it goes flying.  the tweezer is to just hold it in there while I pull the tip out.  Yuk Yuk......

[Chris333]

Kind of hard to describe, but I hold the coupler and bottom box with my fingers so my thumb is on top. I grab the spring with a knife blade and tuck it into the coupler opening. Then I put my thumb down over the spring and pull out the knife. I slide the lid on and snap it shut.

I have more problems getting the springs un-stuck from each other than I do putting them into the couplers.

[DKS]

Kind of hard to describe, but I hold the coupler and bottom box with my fingers so my thumb is on top. I grab the spring with a knife blade and tuck it into the coupler opening. Then I put my thumb down over the spring and pull out the knife. I slide the lid on and snap it shut.

This is exactly what I (used to) do.

I have more problems getting the springs un-stuck from each other than I do putting them into the couplers.

Hold the knife blade parallel to a clump of springs, press down ever so gently, and roll them side to side. After a bit, they come apart. Not sure why it works, but it does.

[GhengisKong]

Drop of what?   

I have found that a drop of electrican's conduit line lubrication is the best. It is viscous like grease...for a few minutes. Then evaporates. No mess that I've encountered either, and the spring stays put!

[Nato]

     "A flea, a fly and a flue were in prison, what could they do?" "Said the fly let us flea, said the flea let us fly, so they fled through thru a flaw in the flue." Get a Shag Rug (carpet) my old layout was in a room that had one (since removed) and I just plain stopped looking for lost springs and other parts. Yes the tip of a knife (Exacto is one brand) works good, or when you become a 72 year old senior with shaking hands buy the assembled versions especially the Z Scale ones and only worry about losing the small screws which come in great numbers  in the assembled 1015/16 packs. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah. 

[diezmon]

They should just mold the spring action into the coupler shank, like a normal person.   

[mmagliaro]

Drop of what?   

Arghhhh!   Edit mistake.

A drop of petroleum jelly works well.  You just need a tiny bit at the end of the spring and it won't keep flying around on you when you remove the Xacto blade.

[strummer]

I have more problems getting the springs un-stuck from each other than I do putting them into the couplers.

Amen to that! 

Mark in Oregon