How to remove ELC Elsie couplings

[Dave Auger]

I've been searching on the Internet for guidance/how to remove Elsie couplings.  I'd like to replace some with Hunt couplings but I cannot work out how you would remove the  couplings.

[Tfc49]

If you're talking about the Elsie (ELC) couplings on Peco wagons, you'll have to separate the wagon body from the chassis by undoing the small nuts (approximately 10BA size) which hold the two assemblies together - depending on the wagon, you may have to remove the wheels first to gain access to the nuts. Having removed the body from the chassis, remove the little covers from the coupling pockets which the couplings sit in (if fitted - may not be present in all wagons) and the couplings should fall out if you hold the chassis upside down. Basically, it's the reverse of building a Peco wagon kit!

Hope this helps.

[ntpntpntp]

As @Tfc49 says, you separate the chassis from the bodyshell to release the couplings.

However, what type of mount do Hunt couplings use?   T-shank and spring? NEM?   ELC pockets are neither of those styles so you may have problems mounting the Hunt couplings in the existing pocket.  ELC pockets are closest to being a "springless" T-shank I suppose.

[Dave Auger]

Thanks for the replies.  I was thinking of using these which are described as Elsie but the picture seems to suggest otherwise.  I'm not sure if the other wagons are the Peco coal hoppers.

https://www.westhillwagonworks.co.uk/hunt-couplings-new-c-2/hunt-couplings-elite-n-gauge-new-c-23/hunt-couplings-elite-close-coupling-10-pairs-for-elsie-sockets-n-gauge-p-158

Is there a best tools for removing those nuts?

[ntpntpntp]

@Dave Auger   Hmm... those couplings shown in the link you posted don't look like they're suited for ELC pockets to me, just standard T shank.  The pocket on the wagon isn't like any ELC I've ever seen, and it looks like a Farish wagon to me (I'm not an expert, I changed to Continental N back in the mid 80s)?

I found a Peco wagon in the bottom of my box of old British N stuff.  This is what an ELC pocket should look like to my knowledge. It doesn't have a recess at the rear to accommodate a spring.




As for a tool to remove the nuts, I suggest a nut spinner.   I have a cheap Rolson set of small size spinners and one of them fits perfectly.  Unfortunately the spinners are not marked with their size but I'm pretty sure it's a 3.5mm spinner.