Does anyone know the specs for the screw that secures a wire to the pickup roller on a standard gauge car? I have a 517 caboose that appears to be missing that screw. I’d like to try to find a replacement at a local hardware store, if possible. Thanks!
My recommendation would just be that you take it there, tell an employee what you’re doing, and then just dig through the screw bins until you find something that fits. Or, if you’re like me, then dig through your screw bins at home until you find something that fits.
Thanks for the suggestions. My collection of orphan screws doesn’t contain anything quite that small. On to the H/W store.
You’re welcome! I wish you good luck in your searches.
My only suggestion is to forget big box home improvement centers because I’ve never found the kinds of screws we need at any of them. You need a true hardware store or contact Trainz, Train Tender, or one of the other online retailers that handle Lionel parts. You could try MTH. I haven’t ordered parts from them in quite awhile but they could be helpful. (I have nothing to prove that I’m right, but the number 4-40 keeps sticking in my mind.)
The TPMS00055 SCREW / PANHD / NICKEL / 4-40 x 0.188in L (which is 3/16 inch) shows up in the parts list and the exploded view next to the wire for the MTH 517 reproduction. Hopefully it works with the original Lionel pickup too. I’ll go look for one at a true hardware store. Thanks pennytrains!
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MTH made the Lionel Classics line, the Tinplate Traditions line and Lionel Corporation Tinplate trains as exact reproductions of the originals so you can trust it if that’s what the diagram shows.
Picked up four screws at the hardware store yesterday, 4-40, 3/16 inch length. I tried a couple of them but they won’t thread in. Perhaps a hair large in diameter. Oh well.
See if you can order a 4-40 tap or thread chase on line, then see if the threads in the chassis are clean.