FRUSTRATION with MT screws for attaching body mount couplers

[GN Fan]

I bought some Micro Trains 1015s for body mounted couplers on a car that has a plastic floor.  Got the hole drilled in the cat floor, got the screw started through the coupler box, but after a while had a very hard time turning the screw with the smallest screwdriver I have.  I forget the number, but it is the small one in a set of hobby screwdrivers you pick up a train shows.  The slot on the top of the screw is pitiful at best.  The slot screwdriver gets no bite on the screw.  All of the screws seem to be the same.  At $10.90 for two pairs of 1015s they should supply decent screws.  After 15 to 20 minutes, I decided to superglue the couplers on.

Thanks for listening to my rant

Tom

[Chris333]

 I thought 1015's came with those longer silver screws?

But I always end up grinding down the tip on my flat screw drivers so the wider ones fit the narrower slot.

[jdcolombo]

I gave up on MT's screws a long time ago.  I ordered some flat-head 00-90 brass screws, 3/16", from Microfasteners, and have never looked back.  50 screws for $10.

http://www.microfasteners.com/fmb00903-00-90-x-3-16-flat-head-machine-screws-brass.html

John C.

[milw156]

did you use a tap to add threads to the hole after drilling it? That would make a big difference, those screws are sot self tapping! I've added MT bodymounts to over 500 cars over the last 45+ yrs, and have never had a problem if the hole was tapped after drilling, the screws almost turn by finger pressure.
Rick

[Philip H]

did you use a tap to add threads to the hole after drilling it? That would make a big difference, those screws are sot self tapping! I've added MT bodymounts to over 500 cars over the last 45+ yrs, and have never had a problem if the hole was tapped after drilling, the screws almost turn by finger pressure.
Rick

This.

Totally this. It's why MT sells a tap I their drill set.

[Doug G.]

I agree with Rick and Phil. You gotta tap the holes. I have never had a problem with MT screws, in, yeah, 45+ years, and they specify you drill and tap.

Doug

[Chris333]

I buy the silver screws from MTL because I cannot find that exact head screw for sale anywhere else.

[thomasjmdavis]

What those guys said.  The tap makes the mounting very simple.  Also, high quality small tools are every bit as important as high quality big tools.  Good quality micro screwdrivers (and drill bits and taps and scribers and punches and...) can make the difference between an enjoyable afternoon of modeling and real frustration followed by ordering new parts.

[bbussey]

You definitely must tap the holes, whether through plastic or metal.  That said, I agree with @jdcolombo and also for years have used brass #00-90 screws rather than the MTL screws.

[seusscaboose]

So we're not phrasing???

[chicken45]

oh yeah bro you gotta tap your holes.

[chicken45]

Also I agree with Mike and Phil and Bryan and Doug, and Tom C. And Eric and probably also Ed and John.

[C855B]

Yes - use a tap, regardless of material. I've been tapping 00-90 holes for MTL (nee Kadee) couplers since 1968, and know the hard way that trying to shortcut it only results in teeth-gnashing and eventually redoing it properly, anyway.

[peteski]

Yes, tap, tap, tap!

A while ago MT couplers included 00-90 size screws which were white-metal casting of standard brass screws.  You could even see a faint mold parting line down the threads.  I don't like those screws because of that parting line and because they were very brittle.  If you didn't tap the hole, the screw would simply break while being screwed in.

It seems like nowadays MT couplers include 00-90 steel machine screws with very thin heads.  While the low profile head is a good thing (for clearance), that also results in the screwdriver slot being very shallow.  But if you find a flat head screwdriver which fits the slot tightly and tap the hole, you will sove the problem.

Using CA glue is not recommended. There is a chance of the glue getting in the coupler box and jamming the coupler shank, and besides that, CA glue does not adhere very well to the slippery plastic. So there is a good chance that your couplers might detach sometime later.

[davefoxx]

I love these MTL screws, and, yes, I use a tap.  Off topic, but I also use these screws for trailer kingpins to fit the hitches in my TOFC cars!

DFF