Large Scale Central

Replacement screw help

Problem Solving
#1

I’ve had many of my Aristocraft and USAT rolling stock sitting outside for years (~10+).

With some of the couplers (Aristocraft mostly), I’m finding that the springs have now disintegrated,
and in the process of trying to take the couplers apart to replace the springs, the screws are rusted
and I’ve stripped them.

I’m also in the process of ‘cleaning’ out the rolling stock of webs and other insect ‘left overs’ and
am finding rusted screws that are being stripped as I remove them to open the cars.

Has anyone replaced screws with ones found from the hardware store or sources like Micro Fasteners?
Does anyone have recommendations on screw sizes that will be good replacements for these screws?
(I’m not too keen on going to Aristocraft and trying to get replacement screws…as they are not a parts
company. The bellow screws have been out of stock for a long time, so I’m giving up.)

My current needs are replacement screws that would be for the ARTP29200-84 (plate mounting screws)
and ARTP29200-87 (part mounting screws) [not sure if these are on in the same] for the Aristo couplers.

The current rolling stock I’m working on (replacing internal lights with LEDs) is the ART42177 long
steel caboose. The screws that I need to replace on this are the truck mounting screws and the screws
that mount the roof on (right above the doors).

Thanks for any advice or recommendations.
Matt

#2

Matt welcome aboard. For the screws, have you contacted MicroFasteners to see if you can send the screw in to size it? Don’t know if they will do it but it’s worth a shot.

#3

Matt: Micro Mark has a screw checker in Metric as well as US sizes, also taps of those small sizes which you can use to clean out the threads and also size the screws you will need. And yes MicroFasteners is a very good source for small screws and they are the least costly as well.

paul