LGB Trackcleaner problem

KeithT

KeithT

Hillwalking, chickens and - err - garden railways.
Country flag
A friend of mine found that his trackcleaner was only cleaning on one rail. He has a disability so could not repair it himself.
No problem, or so I thought.
In removing the wheelset I found the cause; the screw on one side was loose due to the thread in the axle having been stripped when the wheels were replaced about 12months ago, this had allowed the axle to chew the square hole in the larger plastic disc into a circle.
Easy job to simply replace it and the replacement set screw was slightly longer than the original but to be safe i applied some Loctite.
Success!
- - - - - -
Er, no.
Within minutes the same problem was back but in addition I found that both plastic backing discs were cracked all the way across, the screw was loose again and the square had been chewed up!
There isn't sufficient torque to break the discs so the replacement wheels must have been damaged whilst in the packet and the hairline cracks just not visible.
Fortunately, I had a spare set of discs but the thread in the axle was now thoroughly wrecked due to the free spinning of the wheel.
I may be able to secure the wheels by using a longer screw and hoping that there is some undamaged thread deeper in the axle if only I knew the machine screw size and thread. The screw measures 2.5mm across the thread but I don't know the thread type.
Has anyone an idea what it might be please?
The only other alternative is to re-tap the thread slightly larger but having just priced a set of taps and dies at Maplins -£40, that isn't an option for just the one thread!:impatient:
 
The ISO standards ( used to be DIN ) do include a 2.5mm thread and, AFAIK, there's only one thread form so any screws you get hold of should be OK.

David

There are ISO coarse and ISO fine but the fine are not often seen.

On the Rapid electronics site
http://www.rapidonline.com/sku/Tool...ng-Tools/Hand-taps-and-wrenches/61865/85-8305 < Link To http://www.rapidonline.co...wrenches/61865/85-8305
They list a 2.5mm taper plus plug set for £4.00 before postage and VAT
The taps are describes as M2.5 x 0.45 - 0.45mm being the pitch.
With ISO coarse you subtract the pitch from the diameter and you get the tapping-size drill - 2.05mm.
 
I had to replace the whole axle on mine (discs, cleaning wheels, axle, gears and bearings) after the previous owner glued the screws in. Total cost was about £65. Axle was from Chalk Garden Rail, and comes with bearings and drive gear fitted, it's about £50.

Edit, Marc (bunnyrabbit03) may be able to obtain an axle from the continent if you require one.
 
nicebutdim said:
I had to replace the whole axle on mine (discs, cleaning wheels, axle, gears and bearings) after the previous owner glued the screws in. Total cost was about £65. Axle was from Chalk Garden Rail, and comes with bearings and drive gear fitted, it's about £50.
Click to expand...
Ouch!
That is useful to know but I will try a repair before suggesting that.
 
LTfan said:
The ISO standards ( used to be DIN ) do include a 2.5mm thread and, AFAIK, there's only one thread form so any screws you get hold of should be OK.

David

There are ISO coarse and ISO fine but the fine are not often seen.

On the Rapid electronics site
http://www.rapidonline.com/sku/Tool...ng-Tools/Hand-taps-and-wrenches/61865/85-8305 < Link To http://www.rapidonline.co...wrenches/61865/85-8305
They list a 2.5mm taper plus plug set for £4.00 before postage and VAT
The taps are describes as M2.5 x 0.45 - 0.45mm being the pitch.
With ISO coarse you subtract the pitch from the diameter and you get the tapping-size drill - 2.05mm.
Click to expand...
Thanks David I will follow that up.
The thread on the screw is fine but not having anything to compare it against makes it difficult to determine if it falls in that ISO category.
However, if I get the tap all I need is to buy a screw of appropriate thread size/type at the same time. It doesn't matter if it is different to the standard one, it will see out the life of the cleaner.
 
I think the hardest problem with re-threading the axle is not splitting it, if I could have drilled out the shank of the glued in screw and tapped the hole I would have, but I took the easy route and eat beans on toast for a week :laugh:
 
nicebutdim said:
I think the hardest problem with re-threading the axle is not splitting it, if I could have drilled out the shank of the glued in screw and tapped the hole I would have, but I took the easy route and eat beans on toast for a week :laugh:
Click to expand...
Now you are frightening me - it isn't my trackcleaner.:confused:

I would imagine that drilling out the screw shank would have been well nigh impossible (certainly for me!)as the screw is highly polished/hardened steel. The thread is so fine that it looks a no-brainer to be in brass, it is just asking to be stripped. If the screw had been longer it would have made more sense.
 
Just an idea if all else does fail; I think I kept my old axle, it may be possible to bond a cleaning wheel assembly to it and use it as a temporary (until the cleaning wheels need changing) fix. I'll try to find it tomorrow in case you may need it.
 
That is very generous Tim.
I will see if I can sort it out first with a replacement screw but get back to you if that fails.
 
I haven't resolved the problem yet but i believe that I have found the cause.
Coincidentally my own trackcleaner needed the abrasive discs replacing. When I removed the discs I found that the securing screws were twice the length of the ones on the other cleaner and the ones in the LGB replacement pack. The new ones were so short that they would not engage the thread in the axle.
What happened with the other cleaner is that the screw only just engaged, the vibration shook it loose and the damage ensued.
Moral, don't discard the original screws when replacing the discs.
I have scoured M/C for suitable ISO screws but drawn a blank. On Monday I shall try a local electrical suppliers they might just have something.
 
Chaps,

should either of you want to send the old axles to me, I can drill out the old screws and re-tap them for you? Cost will be for postage only.

PM me for the address if I can help....
 
That'd be great Gizzy, I'd have a spare then, for myself or if anyone else should need one. I haven't been able to find the old one just yet, but I know I have it somewhere. It's one of those cases of putting it somewhere safe, so safe that I can't find it. :wits:
 
Gizzy said:
Chaps,

should either of you want to send the old axles to me, I can drill out the old screws and re-tap them for you? Cost will be for postage only.

PM me for the address if I can help....
Click to expand...

Many thanks Gizzy, PM on its way.
 
On return from holiday I refiitted the cleaning disk axle thanks to Gizzy for drilling out the axle and fitting more appropriate screws. (Many thanks)
I tested it and took it round to the friend's house where it performed perfectly.
HOWEVER, before I had even got home he phoned to say that it had happened again!!!!!!! :wits:
One cleaning wheel had spun the screw off the axle and the plastic retaining disks had come apart stalling the loco.
It is jinxed. :timeout:
I have replaced the disc and tightened the screws as much as I dare. - - - It works again BUT I await a phone call - - - - - - - : :impatient:
 
KeithT said:
One cleaning wheel had spun the screw off the axle and the plastic retaining disks had come apart stalling the loco.
It is jinxed. :timeout:
I have replaced the disc and tightened the screws as much as I dare. - - - It works again BUT I await a phone call - - - - - - - : :impatient:
Click to expand...
Loctite?
 
Neil Robinson said:
KeithT said:
One cleaning wheel had spun the screw off the axle and the plastic retaining disks had come apart stalling the loco.
It is jinxed. :timeout:
I have replaced the disc and tightened the screws as much as I dare. - - - It works again BUT I await a phone call - - - - - - - : :impatient:
Click to expand...
Loctite?
Click to expand...
Yes Neil, I will use that next time, it wasn't to hand this morning.
 
This most odd. Because I have heard of stripped threads I hardly tighten mine at all and have never had a problem. I just nip them up until firm. Using loctight on a small brass thread is surely asking for trouble in the long run.
 
stockers said:
This most odd. Because I have heard of stripped threads I hardly tighten mine at all and have never had a problem. I just nip them up until firm. Using loctight on a small brass thread is surely asking for trouble in the long run.
Click to expand...
Desperate measures Alan. If it fails again it will be 4th time and twice with the new bigger diam' screws. V odd though, as you say just "up tight" is usually enough to keep them on for the duration of the abrasive wheels.
 
Maybe I should have drilled the axle through completely (hollow) so thay you could have nutted and bolted the grinding wheels on!

I'm wondering if the errant wheel is unscrewing itself when cleaning?

Might possibly be worth fitting the axle the other way round if the off set gearing and space allow it....
 
i dont know much-but it sound like it needs/is missing a washer to keep tension

and
you might consider reversing the lead wires to the motor
if rotation of the cleaners is reversed-this too may help with the unscrewing
-i run mine this way-ie motor running same direction as driving wheels now all the time-it helps as "front wheel drive" and pulls and tracks well thru points, as well as not stalling on wet rail on grade-just a thought-grinding must be reduced but i have yet to really notice any great change

thanks for the heads up on the different screw lenghts -think ill check mine to see that they are not coming loose
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top