Willy Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 In a recent workshop "purge" I seem to have mislaid, or even thrown out, a box containing coupler boxes and screws for various locos and freight cars that I was working on! I can replace the coupler boxes with Kadee #232 Plastic draft gear boxes but I haven't got any suitable replacement screws so can someone please tell me the size of these screws so as I can get some on order. I am talking about a couple of Atlas locos and freight cars of various makes so I don’t know if there is a standard screw that will cover all of these. Thank you Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 The Atlas engines will use some sort of metric screw, not sure what...I'm guess a 2mm diameter x 1.4 pitch. On the other cars, if they're Chinese made they're probably metric as well. If I'm going from scratch on the #232 box, I'll typically use a 2-56 screw and tap the hole in the car floor or perhaps the 3-48 self tapping screws that Kadee sells. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor quinn Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 In the UK, I use 8BA cheesehead bolts and tap the hole in the car floor. If the floor is plastic you can use the bolt itself to cut the thread, although a proper tap is better. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I found 2-56 in various lengths on Ebay, and Kadee do a set of drill/tap/clearance drill in a pack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Excellent, thank you. I had wondered if there was 'standard' screw but I can cope now that you have given me a few good suggestions. Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I picked up some steel kadee 2-56 screws from these guys : http://www.7mm.co/shop/kadee_coupler_screws.html Quick service, and they seem to stock all Kadee screws and tap sets at good prices too. Satisfied customer, but as Nick says an 8BA should be the UK equivalent to the 2-56. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Thank you Dave. I have also found them on Model Junction website http://www.modeljunction.info/estore/index.php?manufacturers_id=46 and the price there is very good. Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 No Probs Willy Yep good prices too, but shipping only £2 at 7mm co. I've a hang up over high P+P! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 I am in France Dave and I have found that the p&p is pretty much the same wherever I go. The other thing is, I need some other bits and pieces from Model Junction so the postage doesn't work out too bad. Willy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 A 2-56 is a standard screw - just in the US! I'm investigating a US fastener company based in NJ that claim they can supply anything anywhere. I'll report back when known. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I have bought small screws from Amazon.com. 00-90's I use in switch construction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mah644 Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The 2-56 is the standard screw for fastening most all couplers (boxed or not) in the US, which is why Kadee uses that size as a standard. If you are attaching into a non-predrilled surface, you could use the nearest smaller metric equivalent, given that you had the proper tap. The 2-56 size should be available through most US Internet stores and sites. Best Wishes--Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.