Correct thread for GG / Kadee coupler pads?

Tom Tee posted:

I have some display only  PRR Golden Gate passenger cars from about 2009.  The factory threads seem to be metric. 

Certainly sounds logical.

What is the correct screw to use for the China threaded holes? 

Have you contacted Scott Mann, at Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot?

I have no interest in re-tapping to conform to an unintended fastener.

Thank you, Tom

H.W. Thank you.  Would you be kind enough to list Scott's email.  tt

Tom Tee posted:

H.W. Thank you.  Would you be kind enough to list Scott's email.  tt

As listed in the Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot advertisement at the top of the forum 

www.sdmann@3rdrail.com

H.W.  Thank you for the email address.  My click link is not working.  tt

Tom Tee posted:

H.W.  Thank you for the email address.  My click link is not working.  tt

Then simply click on the Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot advertisement in the OGR Header, above.  You will see a "Contact Us", so just click on that. Don't know why my link doesn't work.

The sdmann link  returned dead, undeliverable.

Does anyone else know the thread size for the Golden Gate kadee coupler pad?

Tom

Correction  - the specs below were copied directly from the NWSL catalog and it had an apparent typo error on the length:  it should read : 1/4"x2mmx0.3 

I've been mounting Kadee pockets to virtually all brands of recently imported cars and locomotives (including Sunset) using 1.4×2mm×0.3 PAN head blackened steel machine crews from NWSL.   I like the small blackened pan head as it is less visible, and steel so a magnetized screw driver can pick them up.  They had them in lots of 10 or 100.   

Tom,

Let me know if you can't resolve the issue and I'll call Scott. He does not want his private phone number published as he would get calls at all hours of the day and night.

Bob

Ed got it right.  1.4 cm  long x 2 mm diameter x .3 threads per mm.  Get them from NWSL. That is what I use for all my Kadee coupler boxes, independent of brand of the car or loco.  If there is no hole I use a .052"  (#55) drill bit to make one, and if its in plastic, let the screw tap the hole,  If its brass I tap the hole first.

Ed, Thank you for the specs and source.  Those Kadee magnets you supplied work well when uncoupling is out of reach.

Bob,  Thanks for the offer.  I pass on calling Scott with the info I have received.

John,  Again,  than you for confirming Ed's response.

Thank you guys.  You guys are great.  Really missed out meet this Saturday.  August  is coming!

Tom

Ed and John,

Do the screws have to be that long.  14mm is a long screw.

Ed

John Sethian posted:

Ed got it right.  1.4 cm  long x 2 mm diameter x .3 threads per mm. 

 

Hey guys, 1.4 CM equals 14mm. A length of 1.4mm would be WAY too short.

The spec I posted was cut and pasted from the NWSL catalog web page listing I purchased them from.  The confusion comes from English and metric measures  mixed in the same spec compounded by an apparent typo.   

The listing showed:   1.4×2mm×0.3

  It should have read 1/4"x2mmx0.3                              (1/4" long, 2mm diameter, 0.3 metric pitch)

 I've updated my original post to note the correction.  

If they're like others coming from Asia, they're probably 2mm (verify with Scott just to be sure). I buy them in bulk from Microfasteners (https://www.microfasteners.com/) in 2mmx8mm. They'll mount a Kadee with up to two Micromark shims. I also use these screws with MTH 2-rail locomotives.

Tom Tee posted:

The sdmann link  returned dead, undeliverable.

Tom, I email Scott regularly using the sdmann@3rdrail.com email address, and he gets every one of them.

I stand corrected as well. More like 6 mm, which is about 1/4"  Make it longer if you need to use shims.  Sorry 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Tom Tee posted:

The sdmann link  returned dead, undeliverable.

Tom, I email Scott regularly using the sdmann@3rdrail.com email address, and he gets every one of them.

Tom, it was the "www" in the original post by HW that caused the issue. I was going to mention it but the issue was already resolved. At least you have the correct address for future reference.