Hi Matt. I'm afraid the three packs I got didn't include spares and Im not sure the springs are pre-loaded as future batches are suggested to be. I imagine the packs I got came before the changes were made. To me though, knowing that spares are coming is the important thing. A bit of a pain for you in the short term though
When it comes to replacing the springs, I knocked one of mine out in exactly the same way as you. I failed to re-insert it for about 20 mins as I gingerly pushed it about with a needle. In the end, I came up with laying 4 magnetic screwdrivers around my desk, and the Dapol magnets under where I was working and just kinda "went for it". First time it pinged out but was caugt by one of the screwdrivers. Second time, it dropped in a treat, and worked fine after some extensive testing.
In all fairness, I have trashed two springs on GF non-Nem pocketed wagons recently, when they have fallen out, so to me I can accept spring issues are going to happen occasionally. I was worried by reading some posts that the springs may fall out of all 50 odd quid's worth of couplings I just brought, but I'm confident that's not the case now.
After knocking the spring out, I fitted the rest of my couplings by pressing against the inside of the coupling with the shaft of a small screwdriver. This way there is no risk of compressing the moving part beyond the reach of the spring. I honestly don't think the springs will fall out under normal use!
As yet, I'm still to get the delayed coupling to work for me. Looking at the pictures in the instructions, it seems the shanks deflect as well as the coupling heads, but this hasn't occured for me yet. The shanks have stayed perfectly straight and the heads just simply cannot open enough to contact without coupling after passing the magnet.
I've only tried on some new, short wheel based wagons so far so tomorrow, I will try on my seacows. They've seen a bit more use and might just see the shanks move on them.
Still overall, I am really impressed with them. Aside looking better, I've not had a single one uncouple while playing pretty much all day today.
I will figure the delayed coupling out I'm sure so it's just the NEM pockets that I really need to encourage me to adopt the couplings fully!!!! Any news on these DapolDave??? Making these couplings more universal to older/incompatible stock must be high on the agenda for increasing their sales performance (I would have thought?)
Regards
Lee