Phillips head 00-90 screws for MT couplers

[woodone]

Anyone besides me get flustrated with MT slot headed screws-
I finally ran across some 00-90 screws on flea bay, not cheep but I think they would be worth it.
Just search for 00-90 screws.
At least the Phillips will stay in the drive slot.

[Simon D.]

M1.2 screws will work - they are ever so slightly bigger - and can be got cheaply from China via Fleabay etc.

[woodone]

I have problems getting a 00-90 screw through some of the MT couplers now, sure do not need them to be any tighter.
Seems to make them harder to thread into taped hole.
Are these Phillips- JIS  headed fillesterheads/

[RBrodzinsky]

I've used 00-90 with Torx-2 heads from McMaster Carr.  Not cheap. 

[sundowner]

Walthers sells 00-90 countersunk flat head screwdriver screws i have been using them for body mounts and are flush when mounted thru a MT 1015 coupler

[Southern1970]

I’ve used the M1.2 countersunk Phillips head screws on eBay from china, and they work great especially with 1015/1016 couplers as the head doesn’t protrude below the coupler box and leaves more clearance for the wheel axle.

[peteski]

I have problems getting a 00-90 screw through some of the MT couplers now, sure do not need them to be any tighter.
Seems to make them harder to thread into taped hole.
Are these Phillips- JIS  headed fillesterheads/

I noticed that too.  The older 1023 coupler boxes I own had a mounting hole large enough for 00-90 screws to even have some play.  I just bought bunch of new 1023 coupler boxes and they have much smaller hole!  The 00-90 screw firs so tightly it needs to form its own threads in the hole.  Not sure why MTL decided to do that.  The "new" trip pins are also smaller, but that is a subject for another thread.

[Lemosteam]

Tool wear. As the tool pin wears, the hole gets smaller. You really should run the clearance drill though the coupler first.

[peteski]

Tool wear. As the tool pin wears, the hole gets smaller. You really should run the clearance drill though the coupler first.

While what you said is true, this is a case of them making a whole new mold.  Not only the actual parts of the coupler box are visibly different, the parts tree itself is arranged differently.  This is a new design (as compared to the 20-year old ones I have).  They probably changed the dimensions of the trip pins around the same time.  They are thinner now.

Running clearance drill through a slightly undersized hole is also usually not very successful. Instead of biting into plastic the drill bit simply deflects it.  I'm just curious as to why they made the hole small enough for the 00-90 screw not to easily slip through. 

[Sokramiketes]

I'm just curious as to why they made the hole small enough for the 00-90 screw not to easily slip through.

Probably related to the plastic pin attachment, versus screws, as part of their move to minimize labor costs on RTR cars. 

[peteski]

Probably related to the plastic pin attachment, versus screws, as part of their move to minimize labor costs on RTR cars.

Why not just make the pin larger instead of messing up coupler box design?  Besides, I'm talking about the 1023 coupler box, and those are not used on the cars which use pins.  Actually I don't think any of the MTL rolling stock uses 1023s.

[jdcolombo]

I've used 00-90 with Torx-2 heads from McMaster Carr.  Not cheap.

This is what I’ve adopted, too.  Quality always costs a bit more.

John C.

[peteski]

This is what I’ve adopted, too.  Quality always costs a bit more.

John C.

Are those steel or brass screws?

I can just imagine average-Joe modeler acquiring one of your models someday, and trying to work on the coupler. There will be some head scratching.   

[RBrodzinsky]

Are those steel or brass screws?

I can just imagine average-Joe modeler acquiring one of your models someday, and trying to work on the coupler. There will be some head scratching.   

Stainless steel.  I tend not to put them on couplers, but use them internally when I need to create a spot to get track power from the frame (such as on Atlas locos). Tap an 00-90 hole, drill a clearance hole in a brass strip, solder wire to strip.

[timwatson]

I just ordered a box of these smaller screws 1mm to 1.6mm (2500 pcs) from Amazon $11!!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HXX22JW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Sounds like a 1.0mm screw will clear the hole now. A 1.2mm is a dead ringer for the 00-90 screws.


The screwdriver to use with these is a 000PH. I hope that helps.


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