Skate springs

[playmofire]

I've had to do a bit of work on one of my Playmobil mains locos and one of the skate springs has boinged into infinity, or certainly somewhere I can't find it. Is it possible to buy these separately or does anyone have some spare for sale?

 

[Gizzy]

There are 2 different versions of the skate springs?

One where the spring is mounted on a spike and one where the spring is inside a hole in the skate.

My local model shop has the spikey version, but I need the other version, so he has ordered some for me....

 

[playmofire]

Thanks for the info. The Playmobil one is the spike mounted one, so if you would let me have the contact details of your local shop I'll get in touch with them.

Many thanks in advance,

Gordon

 

[Gizzy]

PM sent with details....

 

[playmofire]

Many thanks, Gizzy.

 

[philkelly]

A spring from a retractable biro is an adequate replacement for the external "spike" spring. A whole biro spring is too powerful - it pushes the skate so hard that the wheels can lift from the track. Two thirds of a biro spring is about right. I have not found an adequate replacement for the "internal" spring, which has a much smaller diameter. I have replacement skates on order from Dragon which come with these springs. If there is a source of very small diameter springs I too would very much like to know about it!

 

[fridge]

"Eileen's emporium" at Newent, Glos. do quite a range of springs. They have a good website, with illustrations of the products.

 

[playmofire]

A spring from a retractable biro is an adequate replacement for the external "spike" spring. A whole biro spring is too powerful - it pushes the skate so hard that the wheels can lift from the track. Two thirds of a biro spring is about right. I have not found an adequate replacement for the "internal" spring, which has a much smaller diameter. I have replacement skates on order from Dragon which come with these springs. If there is a source of very small diameter springs I too would very much like to know about it!

Thanks for the tip, Phil, that's very useful. Since my original post, Walter Turner (walts-playmobil) has contacted me to tell me that the Playmobil springs are different from the LGB ones, but he has some spares of them and will send me some.

 

[playmofire]

"Eileen's emporium" at Newent, Glos. do quite a range of springs. They have a good website, with illustrations of the products.

Thanks, I'll follow that up to for other purposes.

 

[philkelly]

A spring from a retractable biro is an adequate replacement for the external "spike" spring. A whole biro spring is too powerful - it pushes the skate so hard that the wheels can lift from the track. Two thirds of a biro spring is about right. I have not found an adequate replacement for the "internal" spring, which has a much smaller diameter. I have replacement skates on order from Dragon which come with these springs. If there is a source of very small diameter springs I too would very much like to know about it!

Thanks for the tip, Phil, that's very useful. Since my original post, Walter Turner (walts-playmobil) has contacted me to tell me that the Playmobil springs are different from the LGB ones, but he has some spares of them and will send me some.

It was on a Playmo motor block that I used the "biro spring" bodge, but obviously manufacturer's spares are preferable!

 

[playmofire]

A spring from a retractable biro is an adequate replacement for the external "spike" spring. A whole biro spring is too powerful - it pushes the skate so hard that the wheels can lift from the track. Two thirds of a biro spring is about right. I have not found an adequate replacement for the "internal" spring, which has a much smaller diameter. I have replacement skates on order from Dragon which come with these springs. If there is a source of very small diameter springs I too would very much like to know about it!

Thanks for the tip, Phil, that's very useful. Since my original post, Walter Turner (walts-playmobil) has contacted me to tell me that the Playmobil springs are different from the LGB ones, but he has some spares of them and will send me some.

It was on a Playmo motor block that I used the "biro spring" bodge, but obviously manufacturer's spares are preferable!

Ah, right that's still more interesting. I'll suss out a couple of retractable biros, either cheapo new ones or some old ones past their best and investigate further as a reserve measure.

 

[philkelly]

"Eileen's emporium" at Newent, Glos. do quite a range of springs. They have a good website, with illustrations of the products.

Thanks for this. It does look as though the 2mm or 1/8" springs might fit the "hole" into which LGB internal springs go - I have ordered some. Looks like there might be a lot more on the site of interest:

https://www.eileensemporium.com/