.....About Screws

Screws.They are telling a great story about your LGB loco. And they have their own LGB story.

LGB# 69002

The most commonly used screws on your loco or car can be bought from LGB-dealers in packs of hundred, LGB # 69002. As the photo shows they come in a variety of 4 different sized black screws and one silver metal screw, the pack contains approx 100 pieces.

The original (German) LGB screws are all self tapping - they cut themselves into the material while being screwed into it. They are made out of ferromagnetic material so they will cling to your screwdriver (right image)
Screws made in China do not necessarily have that characteristic so they may be hard to work with and may get lost easily. Note: the most common damage your Famous Klaus is seeing are screws that have been over-wound. Self tapping screws that are over-wound will damage the plastic they are screwed into. And once the damage is done it is difficult to repair the thread. (Your Famous Klaus does this kind of repair, though)

Then there are screws used to mount push rods to the wheels. They are not sold by LGB dealers. There are metal screws used in the body/ motor block, there are screws used to assemble the timing gear, there are screws to mount wheels on axles (old LGB motor blocks) and some screws require washers. The image below shows all types of screws used in LGB locos.

NOT FOR SALE screws for LGB locos - Repair and restoration only!

Screws in very good condition

Screws on left are in used condition,
 screw on right shows damage.

When working on the screws make sure to use the correct fitting screwdriver. Incorrect sized screwdrivers will damage the screw for good. The value of an Old original LGB Loco made in (Western) Germany (before 1990) hinges often enough on the condition of the screws. Below are 2 images, one of a (Diesel switcher, left image below) body with almost perfect screws and one of a tender with used screws. Note that the tender (right) has been opened multiple times for various repairs and maintenance issues. The screw on the very right has 'wrong screw driver damage'. When working on your loco to remove screws always use a white towel underneath. Do invest in an $8.00 white bath towel and keep it just for your loco needs. (You may thank me later...) That way you'll find all screws easily, they wont roll away and wont fall down to the floor where they always hide in the furthest corner close to the neighbor's shed......

Another value decreasing condition is the use of non-LGB screws in a loco or wrong size screws. The first  impairs the looks as long as the size fits which is not very likely. Which brings us to the wrong-size-screws. Mostly Klaus sees non-LGB screws that are too big for the purpose. If they are self tapping they generate a thread that is too big for the correct sized screw and will only help as long as the wrong screw is not removed. Since the screw doesn't really fit in the first place ( note that US screws are based on inch base and the LGB German types are based on metric - you get the idea why other screws rarely fit) chances are they either come loose or the plastic piece holding the thread can crack. That's when the trouble will start for good. Klaus has gotten quite a few locos in for repair this spring with exactly that fault showing. His work scope spans from expanded repairs of the thread itself to complete restoration of specific plastic parts of the loco.

So be careful when working on your loco (screws) and make sure to always use the correct sized screws to preserve the value of your engine!!