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Not trying to bash anyone, just get my NEW loco running, a Virginian 30-20126-1, SD70ACE.  It arrived with two screws stripped out of what I will call the bracket holding the steps to the wheel truck (pictures attached). I took it apart and started the process to get longer screws sent to me to fix it, since it appears there is good thread deeper in the hole they insert into.   that was over a week ago and I still have no information back in spite of multiple emails on what dimensions these screws are. No luck on the MTH web site on finding them either.   I assume they are metric and I need a length of about 7mm.  Does anyone have an informed guess on what these screws are.  Even better I will pay for them if you have extras.    Many thanks for insights. 

 

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Last edited by hokie71
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Thanks Joe,  I wonder if these are the wrong screws for the application.  they only engaged a thread or two in the hole.  I think the box was bumped and out they came.  the other end truck held.

 

Servoguy, The idea of ACE is great but the nearest big one is 40 miles away, Free Union is the boondocks!  I may do it over the weekend but I don't want to screw up the threads in the hole by choosing the wrong metric screw.  I was hoping someone knew what it was.

Well I bet someone here does. I just checked and they match other screws used in MTH's engines with regular (button) phillips heads. I found two spares right away but they are very short (6mm total length with head, 4 mm of thread).

 The better news is I found one extra long one in my stash that matches and is 9mm long overall. 6+ mm of thread. I can't find a second one to match though.

 The problem for me is I don't have anyway to tell you what they are. I just save old and extra screws from jobs. I'd guess 3 or 4mm??

 I think you'd be best to get them from micro fasteners if you want extras when you find out what they are. I don't have much luck with tiny screws at stores.

https://www.microfasteners.com/home.php?cat=745

 

Last edited by Engineer-Joe

I need to try the holiday I... too.  I looked up metric screws and, for example, M3 is 3mm od on the screw.  I think that is what I have.  I will check microfasteners to see what they have.

 

the interesting part is, if these are the accurate specified screws (the ones I have are about 4mm of thread) then they are a problem waiting to happen since they only engage a very small number of threads when they are inserted, 1 or 2 at the most.  Like I mentioned, a box bump from our friendly postal system stripped two of them out on this unit. Wonder if anyone at MTH is thinking about making them longer if this theory is true

Thanks Chuck (and all), the parts breakdown I found just  was for a 2007 unit but it looks the same construction wise.  Apparently this is a manufacturing problem, the screw I have is 3mmx5mm and a 2mmx6mm (the correct screw)  would have had more bite into the hole- probably would not have broken. 

As luck would have it I bought both 3x6 and 3x8 from microfasteners.  I'll use the 3x8 if they fit.

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