retapping two screw holes on 441

[esantoro]

Have any of you who have a 441 clone ever encountered a problem with the two screw holes right of the needle plate stripping and needing to be retapped. These are the two screw holes that secure the metal plate to the right of the needle plate or the T-bar ffor the material guide.

I was just now doing some stitching. I was resting my hand on that T-Bar as I leaned in to get a closer look at a stitch, and those two screws popped out under the pressure I had applied. Does this mean I need to retap those holes or might there be some other fix? Anyone ever experience this?

Thanks,

Ed

[Regis]

Ed,

You might try a helicoil thread insert before drilling larger to tap.

Regis

[esantoro]

Ed,

You might try a helicoil thread insert before drilling larger to tap.

Regis

Thanks regis, I think one thing I need to do for sure is run to home depota and get screws that are longer than 10.5 mm, about a quarter of an inch longer.

ed

[Jordan]

A couple of thoughts, vibration may have loosened them to the point of release, blue loctite will take care of that, just a drop on each. Do Not Use red loctite unless you want them permenent. If the screws are stripped then replace, If the holes are stripped then a retap or helicoil is in order, retap go with a slightly larger diameter and longer screw, helicoil will need a smaller screw I think. These are a couple of things I have done with repairing old motorcycles, but should translate to any vibration prone machinery.

[esantoro]

A couple of thoughts, vibration may have loosened them to the point of release, blue loctite will take care of that, just a drop on each. Do Not Use red loctite unless you want them permenent. If the screws are stripped then replace, If the holes are stripped then a retap or helicoil is in order, retap go with a slightly larger diameter and longer screw, helicoil will need a smaller screw I think. These are a couple of things I have done with repairing old motorcycles, but should translate to any vibration prone machinery.

Thanks Jordan. I think a combination of blue locktite and longer screws are in order.

By the way, how long are these screws in the 441 versions others of you might have?

Mine I think are just what the manual states: 11/64- 10.5

Ed

[esantoro]

just got back from home depot with some 8/32" bolts. They seem a bit tight in the machine and don't want tot force it. Doeas anyone know where I can get the 11/64" bolts with a thread pitch of 40 and about 3/4" long. I'll try some other hardware stores tomorrow. I was almost sure these bolts would work.

ed

[Luke Hatley]

Ed just a thought......could the holes or boldts be Metric?

[esantoro]

Ed just a thought......could the holes or boldts be Metric?

The manual says 11/64-40 10.5

At home depot I tried the bolt in the metric screw holes. didn't fit any. I tried the 8/32" hole it fit but not 100 percent perfectly. I'll look around more tomorrow for 11/64" and metric. My other option is to get the locktite titen gap builder, but I still think I need to get longer bolts. The original bolts are about 3/8" long.

ed

[esantoro]

I couldn't find many metric bolts at home depot. Any suggestions for another source?

[Geoffc]

You can get metric bolts at any autoparts house..

Geoff