Model Railway Forum

I have had a small problem with coupling hooks (00 gauge NEM). One wagon kept loosing its hooks and on inspecting other rolling stock I have found that I have 4 others missing. I hope that I have overcome the problem on the one wagon by giving the bit that clips onto the rest of the coupling a little squeeze with pliers, but still have to replace the other 4. Most easily available appear to be Lima ones but they seem to have the open part at the top and not the bottom like mine, also I cannot find ones of the length mine appear to be. Measuring with old eyes and a ruler all the wagon coupling hooks appear to be about 15mm and the one from a coach with a missing hook appears to be about 17 to 18mm. Ones I have found with measurement are either 20 or 25mm.

Firstly is the coupling hook falling off a common problem?

Secondly where can I get the correct size replacements from?

No it isn’t as far as I know. Only had a couple fall off.

What make are the couplings.

Just double checked, 2 x Bachmann and 1 x Dapol wagons and the coach is Hornby.

Hornby hooks are on eBay. Dapol and Bachmann couplings also available from there.

Have now looked a lot more and understand a bit more. Will order the correct length Hornby hooks when the vendor shop is open again, have ordered complete couplings for the rest, had to get both straight and cranked. Did find an interesting problem concerning Dapol and Bachmann NEM tension lock couplings, there are slight size differences around the pockets which can give rise to the need to trim or glue when mixing the two. Also decided to get a pack of drawbars to play with.