Athearn screws?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Anyone know what type/thread Athearn uses for their bolster screws on their plastic cars? I lost a few and can't find replacements.

[peteski]

Anyone know what type/thread Athearn uses for their bolster screws on their plastic cars? I lost a few and can't find replacements.

Does Athearn sell non-plastic N scale cars?!     Sorry, couldn't resist.

I assume you still have some screws, correct?  Can you post a photo or take some measurement?  If they screw into plastic floor I suspect they are self-tapping threads.  You can't find anything that will work. or you are looking for an exact replacement?

[jargonlet]

The 65’ gondola is all metal.

[nickelplate759]

Does Athearn sell non-plastic N scale cars?!     Sorry, couldn't resist.

Yes.  Their mill gondola is cast metal.

[nkalanaga]

And quite a few of their plastic cars have metal floors, so would need screws suitable for metal.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Correct. Athearn uses several types of screws.

Machine screws for their plastic floor cars.
Different machine screws for their updated MDC metal floor cars with body mounted couplers.
Yet another size machine screw for their channel side TOFC cars.
Sheet metal screws for their first-generation MDC metal floor cars, 65' mill gondola and some of their early plastic cars (I think the first run of NACC cars came with sheet metal screws).

The screw I'm looking for was used on their PS2 2 bay hoppers.

[Narlie]

Has an answer to this been found? 

[Sokramiketes]

Is it not the typical 2-56 screw thread?

[peteski]

Is it not the typical 2-56 screw thread?

If anything, made in China item probably uses metric threads.

[TrainCat2]

Daniel,

Try using a micrometer to measure the dia across the threads then use the link below to help find your screw.

http://fastener-express.com/fastener-technical/Metmachthread.pdf

My two sources for micro screws are:
Micro Fasteners:  https://www.microfasteners.com/
Fastener Express:  http://fastener-express.com/

[Narlie]

Actually I'm looking for a source or replacement for the bolster screw on the Prairie Shadows(Rapido Trains made) 52'6" gondola. According to the parts list it is a 1.4X2.5 CM screw.
Have problems with them falling out. Todate have retrieved them but would like to have some extras.

Dave B

[thomasjmdavis]

Actually I'm looking for a source or replacement for the bolster screw on the Prairie Shadows(Rapido Trains made) 52'6" gondola. According to the parts list it is a 1.4X2.5 CM screw.
Have problems with them falling out. Todate have retrieved them but would like to have some extras.

Dave B

Edit:...Removed my own dumb question.  Had assumed the CM was a misprint, because, of course, a 1.4 CM screw would be much too large, and probably intended to mean "mm".  BUT checked my own gondola- a "Puddington Valley" that I've never run, did not realize there was a parts list  in the box.  Turns out the other screw listed is a "KM".  So, pretty obvious that does not mean "kilometer".

So...what is a "CM" screw or a "KM" screw? Different heads or thread pitches or???

[TrainCat2]

According to the parts list it is a 1.4X2.5 CM screw.
Dave B

Have you looked at metricscrews.us ??  This vendor is on our list over on the RC Scale forums
https://www.metricscrews.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_227_230&products_id=1210&zenid=njfct56rggdo8ahbnqeqcbte15

[Sokramiketes]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/163921048021

Nice flat head on these, for truck mounting.  All sizes available. 

[rail_nut]

Narlie,
Try a little rubber cement on the screw when replacing it. An eye glass tech suggested this to me many moons ago. Seems to help.