Dapol OO wagon NEM couplers

[MikeHunter]

Just bought two Dapol grain wagons, they seem to have an unusual arrangement for the NEM pockets, which are very loose. This results in my Kadee couplings drooping. Very annoying, has anyone else had the same problem and found a solution?

[melmerby]

IMHO they are rubbish!

Bin them and fit #146 directly to the underside of the chassis.

 

EDIT

Those wagons must be quite old

Dapol haven't been in Wales for some time.

Edited December 30, 2020 by melmerby

[Darius43]

7 minutes ago, melmerby said:

Dapol haven't been in Wales for some time.

Dapol are based in Chirk, Wrexham, which I am led to understand is in Wales.

 

I have read recently that they are bringing some production back to the UK.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

[spamcan61]

I'm fairly sure they're on the English side of the border, albeit not by far.

 

[MikeHunter]

Think they are a new release of an old product. How do I fit 146s to the chassis?

[melmerby]

1 hour ago, Darius43 said:

Dapol are based in Chirk, Wrexham, which I am led to understand is in Wales.

 

I have read recently that they are bringing some production back to the UK.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

They are not in Chirk, they are in Shropshire, however they have a Welsh postcode.

They reside in Gledrid Industrial Estate which is half a mile inside the border on the English side:

https://goo.gl/maps/pAE45Gb6xCRBjdW26

They used to have a facility in Llangollen, which is very Welsh

 

The old (*ex HD?) range of wagons AFAIK have always been made in the UK.

 

*IIRC they are the ex Hornby Dublo super detail bodies on a Dapol produced plastic chassis.

Edited December 30, 2020 by melmerby

[melmerby]

28 minutes ago, MikeHunter said:

Think they are a new release of an old product. How do I fit 146s to the chassis?

They need a flat surface to mount to, they can be fixed with a self tapper, nut & bolt or more permanently with glue around the edge of the gear-box.

Some trial and error may be needed to find exactly where to fix them.

Fortunately once you have determined the place to fix them, the #14x series of couplings come with three different lengths and three different head positions (9 in all) to cater for all possibilities.*

 

I usually end up with a #146 on a typical RTR 4 wheel UK wagon.

 

*I have converted most of my stock so have a selection of types in stock to cover all eventualities, although it's nice if just #18 or #19 can be used in a NEM pocket that's in the right place.

[melmerby]

I have just checked my Dapol "Fruit D" and I have managed to use a #18, as the sockets don't droop

Some of my other (as yet unconverted) wagons have a noticeable droop of the tension lock.

 

Maybe try tightening the fixing screw first?

It might not work, to stop it drooping whilst still allowing side play.

Edited December 30, 2020 by melmerby

[The Johnster]

I use Parkside PA34 dovetail mounts to fit NEM pockets to stock not fitted with them as supplied, and to replace Dapol droopies.  These mounts can be packed or trimmed to provide your standard coupling height, and be positioned to achieve the required position relative to the buffer beam and buffer heads. 

[BR60103]

I had that problem.

I put a small washer between the screw and the coupler pocket. I used a Kadee grey washer (as they used to be called) from my old stock. Kadee have since changed the specs and I think the hole is bigger. 

Sometimes I put a scale 1x4 or 2x6 in the pocket under the tails.

 

[melmerby]

6 hours ago, BR60103 said:

I had that problem.

I put a small washer between the screw and the coupler pocket. I used a Kadee grey washer (as they used to be called) from my old stock. Kadee have since changed the specs and I think the hole is bigger. 

Sometimes I put a scale 1x4 or 2x6 in the pocket under the tails.

 

Do you mean 1mm x 4mm & 2mm x 6mm, or something else?

[Dominion]

11 hours ago, BR60103 said:

I had that problem.

I put a small washer between the screw and the coupler pocket. I used a Kadee grey washer (as they used to be called) from my old stock. Kadee have since changed the specs and I think the hole is bigger. 

Sometimes I put a scale 1x4 or 2x6 in the pocket under the tails.

 

I have had success adding a small washer and tightening the screw too. You may have to remove the wheel first depending on the exact position of the screw head.

 

However I now find it simpler to just remove the NEM pocket component and introduce a small bend. The tab with the hole behind the NEM box will take a small bend easily, using the join to the box and the bend line. When reassembled that tends to keep the NEM box pushed up against the floor of the chassis, with the couplers at teh right height

Be careful when in reassembly to sit the NEM box between the two small spring tabs that centre the box. 

Tom

 

[MikeHunter]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Think I’ll try adjusting them first. If that doesn’t work I’ll fit replacement Kadees

[MikeHunter]

Took the couplings apart and added a washer as suggested by @BR60103 only put the washer under the NEM pocket. Very fiddly as the screws are so tiny. However success! Couplings no longer droop, and are at the right height. Tested them on the layout with my new 1P. Ran a treat.

[BR60103]

16 hours ago, melmerby said:

Do you mean 1mm x 4mm & 2mm x 6mm, or something else?

Scale inches. (Sorry). Mine are HO scale, as that's commonly available here.

 

I also feel that the thing the couplers mount in doesn't need quite as much movement as it comes with, so I tighten the screw up a bit.

Try a drop of Roket Card glue on the tip of the screwdriver.

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by BR60103
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