purchased 6 new ones and all the screw terminals dont fit the screws correctly,super tight if not impossible to tighten down.Thanks atlas for pinching pennys at my expence, as 2 are broken.
After you broke the first one, why not stop and find out what was wrong? Sounds like their supplier packaged the wrong screws. Or they were burred.
A call to Atlas would have resulted in new screws and or a switch machine. I have spoken to their service people before and they are very knowledgeable.
Jim
Hmmm.... I wonder.
How old are the switches that you are attaching them to?
Where did the new machines come from.
I wonder if the new manufacturing plant is using metric screws instead of US screws. LION suggests testing screws before you assemble. If it looks like a duck, and qacks like a duck, it still could be a frog. You never know, do you.
Forget the screws. mout the machine with a blob of silicone caulk and be done with it.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Soo Line fanA call to Atlas would have resulted in new screws and or a switch machine.
Jah, Jah, but that would take a week, and I want it to work NOW.
Do not stan between an impatient LION and his prey.
Ya, why take the time to do it right .............................
Soo Line fan Ya, why take the time to do it right .............................
Alton Junction
Whether they are standard or metric, find out what the thread size or pitch is and run the correct tap through the hole. I don't know where to get a Die small enough to clean up the threads on the screws though.
tired of fixing brand new items.This is just a heads up to everyone-the terminal screws supplied(phillups head) do not fit,nor do the older regular screws. Both types do fit the older sw.machines.
When did Atlas start using Phillips head machine screws? All the one's I ever saw were flat head Brass and silver. I must have missed somtin'. Me tink's that's a China boo boo! Wrong size slugs in the plastic. Call Atlas and explain.
Frank
Frank,
At some point they started using phillips wood screws but like you all I have seen is flat head machine screws.
What kind of truck is that in your avatar?
Jim,
In reference to the Truck, It is a 92' Freightliner, I had when leased to CSX Intermodal. The pic is from 93', I was stuck in a truck stop, on I-80 near Oil City, PA. The road was shut down West bound due to a ten vehicle pile-up on the bridge. Sat there 20hrs. I have a few better ones of it, I will put there, finally got the printer, scanner, copier working the way I want. I will evetually be able to post all the pic's from my 35mm collection. Right now I'm having more problem's than I want, just staying in sync, with our software. I'm on my third browser now, they work fine for a week and then I lose control. I know it isn't me, cause I only have the problem here. When they first switched, I had no compatability problem's at all. Now every week, it's something different.
BTW That is not a rant, I stuck up for them and still do, I think they are trying to put 10lbs in a 5lb bag trying to get I-Phones and Mobile devi's going. IMHO.
Frank, keep on truckin'
Rich
richhotrain Frank, keep on truckin' Rich
You should post some full size pictures of the trucks.
We have guys posting dancing hamsters and troll trains so I doubt if anyone would mind seeing some trucks.
That is in the works and many of them have railroad equipment in them, with the trucks I started out with in 1983, when I started out on my own. Right now I'm concentraing, on finding out why I keep loosing control, of some functions, on our new software, when in the beginning, I had no compatability problem's at all with it. Notice, I did not use Quote. On third browser right now started off great, then Poof! lose control. No other Forum site, I frequent, do I have a PROBLEM.
Thanks for Your Interest.
I bought an atlas switch machine within the past 6 months. It came with phillips hear machine screws and they fit perfectly. And by the way you do not use a die on an internal thread. I have a feeling the op crossed threaded them which is very easy to do. If you do mess them up go to your local Ace hardware store. Mine has screws that small. Chances are yours will too.
cgw121,
I have a feeling, You may be correct, on the cross threading issue. Once you do that, any force will loosen the threaded slugs in the plastic and bye bye! But he did say he tried the older one's. So it's anyone's guess. I would need it in my paws, to say for sure.
ANY small machined bolt like the ones on an Atlas Switch machine is easier to cross thread than it is to anger a pmsing woman. Any time you get resistance DO NOT FORCE IT. Back it out and look at the threads to make sure you have not damaged them and try again, Often turning it the oppisite way will help line it up. I worked as a Machinist for over 30 years so I know what I am talking about.
CGW121 I bought an atlas switch machine within the past 6 months. It came with phillips hear machine screws and they fit perfectly. And by the way you do not use a die on an internal thread. I have a feeling the op crossed threaded them which is very easy to do. If you do mess them up go to your local Ace hardware store. Mine has screws that small. Chances are yours will too.
I probably was and did it without looking it up. sorry. Someting that small it is easier to replace rather than rework. Tapping is a bit easier, but personally I would retap from the bottom, That way you would have a better chance of getting it lined up right.
Please contact our Customer Service Department at csdept@atlasrr.com or 1-800-872-2521.
Paul Graf
Atlas Model Railroad Company
Paul, just to keep us all informed, could you tell us if this is a known problem (metric vs. US, wrong thread size, etc.?) Thanks.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It's not something that is common, and it may not even be anything we can determine without getting the product back. We did have a batch of terminal tracks a few years back that had a mismatch on the thread, but I have not heard anything on a switch machine.
A trick I use to avoid cross threading is to put the screw in the hole and while applying light pressure, turn the screw backwards (as if you were removing the screw) and you shoud feel a 'click'. When you feel the click, turn the screw in the correct direction, it should line up perfectly and go in with no problems. If there is a burr, it should clear itself in a 1/2 turn or so...if it's still tight, there is a little more work to do to figure out what's going on. Put your fingernail into the thread and turn the screw, this should clear any debris, paint, or chemical blackening (it doesn't take much stuff in a small thread to make it not want to go in right) or you might be able to feel any burr. You could buy screws smaller than the existing hole (and corresponding washer/nut) to temporarily use the terminal while you wait for the right screws to arrive, or solder them for a really good joint that won't come loose (providing you solder correctly). A field trick is to file a notch into the side of the screw (essentially making a self tapping screw); don't jsut file a flat on the side of the screw, file a notch. This might take a lot of 1/2 turn in, 1/4 turn out motions to clear chips from the hole. I've done this, and while it ruins the threads, it has worked for me...there is no substitute for the right tool though. Good to see Atlas is ready to help!
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