Recommended screw size/source for Kadee draft gear mounting?

You could spare everyone from reading your War and Peace saga and simply post a request for the screws on the Wanted To Buy Forum. 

2-56 is just fine, length depends on what you're screwing into. sometimes I use 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2 etc etc ... just depends on what length u need for the application

Exactly the info I was looking for, thanks!

Material is a plastic boss, already pre-drilled. Equipment in question is a variant of the K-Line 2-axle ore hopper, equipped for a drawbar rather than the Kadee 805 clones installed on most of the production run.

---PCJ

The Kadee coupler instructions state a 2-56 mounting screw, they offer a variety of screws, are less expensive than MM plus the 1/2" 2-56 acetal screws can be trimmed for a variety of applications.

Screw checker tools (standard and metric) are helpful on the hobby bench.

Enjoy your project. 

Here's what I've been using with great success:

http://www.microfasteners.com/...rew-alloy-steel.html

All you need is a small hex wrench to tighten them down.  The shallow head on these button screws "hides" very easily, all the screws I've gotten are black.  They come in a variety of lengths, the button head looks like it belongs on a train, the flathead doesn't , plus I would think the flathead screw would deform the coupler box when tightened.

One other tip... when I put a screw into plastic, I don't tap the hole, just screw the screw in after pre-drilling.

Just in case anyone else is looking, since it takes some digging to find the proper screw in Kadee's instructions if you're not familiar with them (of if you somehow wound up with older-style packets like the ones I got from Red Caboose, that don't mention the "recommended  tools" on the back like the newer ones)...it's a 2-56 by 1/2" screw you want. I mistook my measurement of the box thickness as 1/8" instead of 1/4"

In a pinch, your local (or semi-local) Radio Shack carries an assortment of 2-56 machine screws in various lengths from 1/4" to 3/4" that will fit the mounting holes in the 805/806 coupler box. The part number is 64-3010.

If anyone runs across this post while looking for a coupler solution for the K-Line K672-7501a Kennecott Copper ore car 4-pac (it was designed to be run with a handcar set rather than the Plymouth switcher), I'd recommend starting with the Kadee 806. The regular production ore cars have clones of the Kadee 805, but the slope sheets and end sills were notched to accommodate their length. The Kadee 806 has a shorter draft gear box that won't interfere with the slope sheets, but you'll still need to trim end sills and screw boss so the coupler sits at the proper height, as these cars were designed to run with drawbars within the handcar train, or with optional dummy "lobster claws" on each end of a drawbar-linked set within a regular train.

---PCJ

All very good stuff.  Thanks!!

I get blackened 2/56 phillips head screws in several lengths and appropriate quantities from "Microfasteners". 

Various lengths to shim up various distances so I can get the NMRA standard heigth on variety of 2 rail and 3 rail conversions. 

Also, various lengths because due to shipping costs compared to product costs it makes sense to me to get appropriate lengths in appropriate quantities to last for a while.