Size of MicroTrain 1015 screw

[Paradise275]

Hi Gang.Can anyone tell me the size of the 1015 screw and if you can buy them in bulk anywhere?
I want to replace the pins holding the couplers on the MicroTrains heavy weight coaches as I have a lot of them. I find they twis out of position when reversing them, and then derail the coach going forward.
Rick

[bbussey]

#00-90.

[rodsup9000]

Micro Trains 00112020 is a 24 pack of 00-90 screws

[nkalanaga]

If you want real bulk packs, here's where I get mine, in lots of 100 or so:
https://jimorrisco.com/

[Kentuckian]

I have gone to the Torx 00-90 screws as others on the forum have suggested. I have several plastic capsules of the 00-90 slotted head screws that I don’t need. PM me your address and how many you want and I will mail them to you. I am always in debt to TRW collective and try to pay back the few times I’m able to.

[Simon D.]

If you are outside North America, you may have to do with M1.2 (millimetres) screws, available in bulk on Ebay etc from China.  These work, but are fractionally bigger and have to be threaded rather than pushed through the coupler box.  This does, however, give a very secure fit which can be useful.

[Sokramiketes]

I'm a convert to M1.2 screws.  Phillips head instead of slotted, I keep a selection of 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm on hand now.  Same tap drill as a 00-90 works fine in plastic and then let them cut their own threads. 

[crrcoal]

Micro Trains 00112020 is a 24 pack of 00-90 screws

The length is 5/16. Seems kinda long. Is that optimal for truck mounting?

[nickelplate759]

I find that the Micro-Trains screws are often longer than I'd like, or is required.   Sometimes (such as on Micro-Trains open hoppers) too long to work.     They're also steel, and not the easiest to trim.

Don't misunderstand, I do like them and I use them anywhere they work and won't show.
But I also use shorter 00-90 screws, such as flathead (counter-sunk) 3/16" (or 5mm, which is a tad longer) on the aforementioned Micro-Trains open hoppers.

[peteski]

I find that the Micro-Trains screws are often longer than I'd like, or is required.   Sometimes (such as on Micro-Trains open hoppers) too long to work.     They're also steel, and not the easiest to trim.

I almost exclusively use brass 00-90 screws with MTL boxes.  Over the years I bought a wide selection (lengths and heads) of them from various sources.  Much  easier to trim the brass if that is needed.

[rodsup9000]

  I usually buy my screws from JIMorris, but when I compared prices and needed close to 1000 of them, MT's street price was a lot cheaper.

 As for being too long for hoppers and such, I just use a large set of wire cutting dykes to trim them once mounted. A small drop of paint  will hide the screw.

[mmagliaro]

I like Morris, but they are kind of expensive.
I have bought brass 00-90 from here:
https://www.microfasteners.com/fmb00903-00-90-x-3-16-flat-head-machine-screws-brass.html

At first, $20 for 50 sounds high.  That's 40 cents a piece.
The WS packs of 5, even if you can get under $4, are 70-80 cents each, as are the Walthers ones.

I like the flat head countersink style because they fit down into the countersink in the coupler boxes.

[nkalanaga]

One can also countersink the 1025 boxes, by carefully using a 1/32 3/32 inch drill bit held in ones fingers.  Just twirl it around a few times, don't try to "drill" with it.

I use JIMorris screws because some wheelsets have axles large enough in diameter to rub in roundhead screws.  As others have said, bress screws are easy to cut to length, so most of mine are 3/16 inch.  I have a few 1/4 inch ones for "difficult" applications, where I need a nut on top, such as boxcars with stripped holes.

And, as Peteski noted, the angle made by the drill doesn't match the head of the screw, as a true countersinking bit would.  But it's close enough, and gives a lot more axle clearance than the round-head screws.

[peteski]

One can also countersink the 1025 boxes, by carefully using a 1/32 inch drill bit held in ones fingers.  Just twirl it around a few times, don't try to "drill" with it.

1/32" seems a bit small to countersink a hole for a 00-90 screw head. 

Since I love right tools for the job, I prefer using a single-flute tungsten-caribide countersink bit.

Drill bits have a wrong (too shallow) angle for countersinking and they can wander a bit.  They are available in several different angles, one of which perfectly matches the screw head taper.  IIRC, flat head screws have either 82 or 90 deg. taper.

A single-flute countersink does not wonder (it's self-centering), and the sharp tungsten-carbide cutting edge cleanly and easily bites into the POM plastic.  I use a 1/8" diameter countersink bit held in my fingers.  Great thing is that it only costs few bucks, and should last a lifetime.

[nickelplate759]

@peteski - can you recommend a source for that little wonder?