Looking for a machinist or a gunsmith for some help

[woody 73]

Hi,

Is there any GJ member who is able to make a few small special machine phillips flat head screws size 5-40?

I am rebuilding an old New Britain Ratchet model # NS 40 1/2" drive. I realized when I bought it that I would never get those screws free without breaking them.

Yes I could buy new screws and save a lot of heartache but I dont want just any screw I want the same screw style which is hard to get for a very old ratchet.

some people might say why bother, but if you have ever restored something you will understand.

If anyone can give me a members name I would very grateful.

Thank you.

 

[David Ferguson]

Check in with the Gunsmitting area over on Practical Machinist.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/gunsmithing/

What exactly does the screw look like? Could one of these be modified?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#phillips-machine-screws/=5xok39

http://www.mcmaster.com/#90272a124/=5xokwq

 

[woody 73]

David Hi,

The screw has a flat head then it has a smooth shaft from the top going down about 2/3rds of the way followed by about 1/3rd at the bottom by threads.

The smooth part goes into a pawl like barrel hole that in turn holds a small steel spring.

These screws are all the same on very old New Britain ratchets. The darn things are very hard to get everyone tells me that people that work on guns use that same size 5-40.

I apologize for lack of pictures I was able to save one screw for someone to make a few copies.

David would it pay to find a local machinest if I can not find any GJ member?

Thanks Woody.

 

[Ray-CA]

Try these guys: http://www.brownells.com/

Lots of small stuff for guns. Great to deal with also.

Ray

 

[rsanter]

options

try to find a screw that you can buy that is close and can be modified to make it 'original'

can you swipe them out of another ratchet? different brand?

would they be the same or close ot something from snap on, mac, cornwell...etc

look at the machinist hobby, there are several manufactures that make special screws for the small steam and gas engines. could one of those be the same?

bob

 

[woody 73]

Thank you ray and rsanter for your help.

I have bought a few screws with threads going the whole length of the screw,I bet you are right about buying a screw one size larger and having someone cut it down to size on a lathe.

I will try asking a cornwell dealer about your idea sounds like a good plan.

Something I did think of and I know this will sound crazy but Napa used to carry New Britain I wonder if that idea would fly?


Again thank you for the input.

 

[MattT]

McMaster list 5-40 Phillips

If you just need the head diameter reduced that can be done with a drill and file AKA Redneck Lathe

 

[woody 73]

Hi matt,

Hey that one Is new too me , I did manage to buy a few screws from a company called Fastenal.

Thanks again Woody.

 

[Ign]

I built a single cylinder 4 stroke model engine. The print called for 5-40 all over the place. I omitted that and used 4-40 or 6-32. It also called for 12-24 and 12-28 which I was stupid enough to use for the head bolts, but it became a headache later.

Just in case I ordered a couple 5-40 taps and a die. It was not particularly easy to source these. But in my web searching I stumbled across a lot of RC car stuff. These guys have some suggestions on how to obtain odd threads w/out being a machinist.

http://www.rcforum.ca/online/t7079/

Taking a que from that I'd at least try running a 5-40 die over a 6-32 screw (which will be far more readily available).

These guys list a 5-40 screw but I can't tell if it's phillips, hex, or flat
http://www.lunsfordracing.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LUNS&Category_Code=STDFLAT