Plarail/Pre-2009 TrackMaster Axels

ThomasSirHandel

Would like to know if I can purchase spare long axels (or a similar tooling) anywhere from the Plarail/Pre-2009 Trackmaster Models. Never really liked the shorter ones from the Mattel era.

Therealblack64YT

hit toy hiro and victor have a half axel and I have both so I can confirm

Super

I think a member here did find steel stock somewhere that matches the axles but I am not sure who....maybe it was Ripley802?

Donald9Douglas10Oliver11mp

You could try a thin nail, cut down to size

chrisjo

The diameter of the axles you want is exactly 3mm.

All you have to do is put "3mm mild steel rod" into your favourite search engine. Your only problem is going to be sorting through half a million results, from all kinds of outlets, DIY stores, Hobby stores, Metal vendors, Electrical wholesalers, ebay, Amazon, etc. etc.

Ideally you would already have access to a ruler, a hacksaw, a smoothing file, and preferably a bench-vise.

chrisjo

Yes, cut down 3mm nails could work.

Or if you know the exact length you want, try searching for "3mm Dowel Pins". You might be lucky and find the exact length you need, without cutting. Going to cost more though.

ThomasSirHandel

Found the axels, but what about the end pieces which keep the wheels from falling off?

Super

If you buy from the Japan Auctions, there are always someone selling a bunch of wheels with axles attached for cheap but it may drive the price up with Agent Fees and shipping.

chrisjo

ThomasSirHandel wrote
Found the axels, but what about the end pieces which keep the wheels from falling off?

I haven't (yet) been able to find anything directly equivalent to the steel boss used on the axle end by Tomy.

If it were me, I'd be trying either 5mm OD 3mm ID aluminium tubing (much easier to cut than steel), or alternatively 4mm OD 2.5mm ID flexible tubing cut into slices and fixed with cyanoacrylate (crazy glue / superglue). The second of these should be really easy to work with.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325399837724
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132283840959

ThomasSirHandel

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164624315126
Well this is what I ordered and if they turn out to be too long I will just cut them.

chrisjo

ThomasSirHandel wrote
Well this is what I ordered and if they turn out to be too long I will just cut them.

0.7mm diameter is an interesting choice. I wonder what diameter the flat heads are. No doubt you'll update us when they arrive.

Meanwhile, these look good, available in 3mm (M3) diameter and 35mm or 40mm long:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/192446201122

And these would be brilliant but the longest I've found so far are 30mm which probably isn't quite enough:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185580981326

ThomasSirHandel

Also brought some of these

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373245570669?var=642824863502

The option I ordered is 3/16 X 1-15/32

Super

Let us know the results of your replacements

ThomasSirHandel

Thinking about just using nails and cutting off the points since I can't really find a correct size in clevis pins. Need to know the correct nail size. The brand I am currently looking into is Polished Box Nails.

12-29-2022 UPDATE

Got some Polished Box Nails (6D x 2") delivered and they are a correct fit though they will need to be cut with a metal cutting pliers which I already have. Now just looking for the end rings which fit that size.