Step2 Assembly Resources

Whether it’s for the holidays, a special birthday, or a surprise for a child “just because”, we want every occasion with a Step2 toy to be full of fun and excitement. Here are a few useful tips with a complete assembly timeline to ensure your—and your child’s—experience is fun and memorable!

Expected assembly timesExpected assembly times

When your package arrives...

Open the box as soon as possible to make sure all parts and necessary decals are included.


In the rare occurrence that your item is missing something, please call the Step2 team at 1-800-347-8372 to request a replacement part.

 

One to two days before assembly...
Take a minute to read over the assembly instructions and familiarize yourself with the process. You’ll save time
in the long run by reviewing first, instead of trying to figure out the next step as you go.


It’s also a good idea to review the decal locations to ensure placement accuracy before you begin.

The day before assembly...
It’s important to note that the assembly times below are estimated per category, and there’s a chance some
items may fall out of these estimated times.


Before you begin, refer to the Assembly Time section on your specific product’s instruction sheet (listed with a stopwatch icon) for a more accurate assembly time-frame where applicable.


When you begin assembly...
Review the assembly instructions one more time before you begin. Collect all necessary tools, and find a friend to assist if larger pieces need some more stability.


Lay out all the parts with their corresponding illustration on the instruction sheet. Match up the screw sizes and quantities, any decals, and other components.

Pro Tips

Fitting Parts Together
Our parts fit tightly together for added strength and durability. If you have trouble getting a secure fit, use a drop or brush on vegetable oil or dish soap to help them along!

 

How To: Cap Nut Assembly
Cap nuts are tough little guys. Make sure the whole piece is completely straight when assembling with cap nuts. This is where help from a friend can go a long way!

 

Buddy System
Ask a friend for help, especially on items with a longer assembly time and long or awkward pieces that need aligned.

 

Note Left, Right, Front & Back
When reviewing the included parts, be sure to pay attention to the Left and Right pieces. Set yourself up for success by making sure critical parts like wheels and doors are installed on the correct side!

 

Screw Sizing
The product’s included screws are the actual size of the assembly sheet. Match them up before you begin to ensure the correct screw sizes for each step.

 

Lost Instructions

If you ever lose the product manual, the product page contains a PDF download of the assembly instructions for your convenience.

 

Screw FAQ

Q: Why don’t Step2 products include pre-drilled holes?

A:  It’s better for you to create the holes yourself, so that every item is guaranteed complete alignment for the best and strongest results.

In order to minimize risks of small parts posed by drill shavings, the metal screws provided are self-tapping. Please note the pointed metal screws provided will pierce the pliable plastic and form their own threads into product.

In addition, during our manufacturing process, the plastic parts are processed warm. Our manufacturing process does not allow us to consistently place pre-drilled holes for self-tapping screws due to the shrinkage that occurs after parts cool down. This will result in hole misalignment of parts intended to be matched during the assembly process.

We instead provide location points for screws as shown in the product instructions. When downward pressure or force is applied to the screw with a screwdriver, the screw will drive into the plastic and create a hole. This would be the same or true of driving screws into a wood board without a hole. If needed or preferred, you can use a small nail with a hammer and pound a nail into the plastic a bit to create a starter hole and then take out the install screw. A power screwdriver or rechargeable drill can also be used to aid installing screws, but we do not always recommend as driving screws in too far can strip out the plastic and cause other damage.

 

Q: What’s the best way to get the screws into the pieces properly?

A: First, it’s important to pay attention to the screw sizes. All screws are actual size on the assembly instructions, so match the screws up to guarantee you’re using the correct size for each step.

Second, starting with the correct size screwdriver is key. Save time up front by taking note of the screwdriver type and head size to avoid wiggly screws during assembly.

Line of pressure

And third, create a straight line of pressure. Align the screw top with the screwdriver, up to your hand and elbow position. Put direct pressure onto the screw by turning slowly with the line of pressure until the screw starts to tighten into the plastic. Do not overtighten the screws!

Videos Tips

Visit our video tips page for more information on

  • Creating pilot holes and installing screws
  • Wireform and wheel assembly
  • Easy capnut removal
  • Installing axles and capnuts