Track bolts etc

kim

kim

retired at last
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I have started replacing all of the Aristo 2mm bolts on my track with stainless steel 2mm x 3mm bolts supplied by a local company. I have been thinking about this for some time but the decider on this was continuity problems in some areas now that the running season - for me - has started and the fact that a lot of the Aristo bolts would not tighten because of rounded heads, needless to say I found a lot of loose bolts, a few that were ok and two that won't shift!
I bought myself 200 new bolts, a set of 2mm taps and a 1.5mm key for the bolts all for less than £20. The bolts sit on the key nicely and it has been an easy task to replace the Aristo ones, apart from the two that won't shift. I now have on order a couple of centre shank 1mm drill bits for the 2mm tap set and I will be looking for replacement bolts for the Hillman clamps on my next visit. The continuity problems have now gone I am pleased to say.
The suppliers are 'Aitch Tools and Fasteners Ltd' in Blackpool and they are on 01253 792190. The website is under construction currently and they are on e-bay.
Kim
 
That sounds like a good deal - Aristo socket head screws were at least a fiver per bag of 50 - but, concerning the drill size for tapping, don't you need a 1.6mm drill bit?
 
in my younger days Mick I cut a lot of threads onto steam pipes but not of lot of tapping! I'll take your word on that size and I'll order a couple of centre shanks at 1.6mm.
Cheers,
Kim
 
Remember the geared cutting heads? - 403 turns of the handle to get 1.1/4 of thread on 6" Red Band (plus a few dribbles of oil).
 
Oil!! You had oil? All our gaffer gave us was blocks of animal fat - can't remember the name given to it, was it tallow? Used to stink as the iron got warm with the cutting with yours truly on the end of the bar with feet in the air when cutting big pipes. The 60's, them were t'days, some called em happy. ;)
 
Tallow it were. T'oil were rationed though (old Tyke problem - short arms and deep pockets) :(
 
Yes, ir's a 1.6mm drill
 
stocks and dies, jumpimg i the air ..and hitting the handle .. pipetreading.. :o
 
Carrying this forward I asked the nice man at Aitch if he could get me some new bolts for my Hillman rail clamps as the heads round inside and become a bugger to tighten. He just looked at the clamp and bolt I took in and said no problem, back today to collect them and from that one glance I have 100 replacement bolts for a lot less than a tenner. They are: #4-40x5/8" 1960 socket cap screw, or as he calls them, American number 4. Just replaced the bolts in a couple of clamps, perfect, and a squirt of WD40 to protect them. Mine aren't stainless but he can supply them, tells me that the ones he got for me are stronger than stainless.
I can thoroughly reccomend this supplier.
Kim
 
High tensile steel rusts very fast (and rust doesn't scale down). I don't think WD40 will protect anything for long outside.
 
kim said:
Carrying this forward I asked the nice man at Aitch if he could get me some new bolts for my Hillman rail clamps as the heads round inside and become a bugger to tighten. He just looked at the clamp and bolt I took in and said no problem, back today to collect them and from that one glance I have 100 replacement bolts for a lot less than a tenner. They are: #4-40x5/8" 1960 socket cap screw, or as he calls them, American number 4. Just replaced the bolts in a couple of clamps, perfect, and a squirt of WD40 to protect them. Mine aren't stainless but he can supply them, tells me that the ones he got for me are stronger than stainless.
I can thoroughly reccomend this supplier.
Kim
Click to expand...

Hm Kim understand the lack of strength in the Hillman Clamps, I have trashed a few over the years. However if he can supply Stainless I would go for them. I will probably be contacting him as I could do with a few Stainless as replacements on my Hillmans.
JonD
 
Beddhist said:
High tensile steel rusts very fast (and rust doesn't scale down). I don't think WD40 will protect anything for long outside.
Click to expand...
Thanks Peter and Jon, I'll order some stainless steel ones from him. I'm just pleased that I can get replacement bolts for the clamps.
Kim
 
Kim,
all my track is Aristo and secured with joiners and the small screws provided. It has been laid for ten years.
I check every six months, or so, in order to tighten any screws that are loose - very few are. I have only ever encountered two or three that have become 'round headed' which, suggests to me that you may be over tightening them. When I ran track power the screws did ensure good electrical conductivity but powering by batteries now means that conductivity is no longer a track requirement. I respectfully suggest that should be careful that the brass threads in the track web do not get damaged as a result from over tightening.
 
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