Hachette Flying Scotsman wheels thread size?

[JeffP]

Having now sourced new axles for the driving wheels of the above kit, we come to the other wheels, bogie, trailing and tender.

The wheels are a reasonable to good fit on the axles, so usable, but the provided screws are another story.

They appear to be made of what Monty Python once described as "Welsh Silver: a cunning zinc-bakelite alloy", so very soft . Constant removal of the wheels will quickly render them useless.

 

Slater's screws don't fit.

To buy seven new axles would be expensive, but eBay and Google may come up with some screws.

They are 6mm countersunk Allen screws.

But what thread size, does anyone know?

[doilum]

I'm afraid they may be Chinese bicycle thread. Or a bespoke artisan product unknown to the western world. I think if you have reached the point of deformation you have overtightened them in the quest to convince yourself that they are ok. I decided that the fit was ok for the non driving wheels and paid the £15 for three axles and screws. 

Making the Slater's axles fit takes some careful fettling but is definitely worth the effort.

[JeffP]

I've done the driving wheel axles, and gently filed the Slater's axle to a good fit.

I've not deformed any screws yet, but many people commented on how soft they are, do I was going to replace them before they could deform.

They might be M2, but I have no M2 screws to try.

M2.5 is also possible, but the same applies.

Edited to say: at £3.90 per axle plus p&p, seven new axles will be over £30.

Edited January 19, 2021 by JeffP

[30801]

It's a while since I did mine but I think I just replaced the three driving axles with Slaters and they fit the wheels fine. The rest of the wheels, being smaller and not needing quartering were ok with the Hachette ones.

[doilum]

Having just had a play with what I think is a random Hachette axle it appears to be M 2.5. The three I replaced for St Frusquin went into a static Peckett in the first lock down.

 

Edited January 19, 2021 by doilum

[JeffP]

Thanks for the replies.

Definitive answer is that the originals are M2.5 X 6.

 

A local bolt and nut specialist sold me 20 10mm ones for £1 this morning in a nice black finish. I had checked the depth of the threads in an axle last night and it averages 15mm.

 

I've ordered a small pack of Allen keys off eBay. 

The correct size is 1.5mm.

 

I'll have to use paint on them to identify them as 1.5mm since Slater's ones use 1.7mm.