Case screw drill bit size?

Fulltilt · Post by **Fulltilt** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:26 am

Are others finding that the case needs drilling for the screws that come with the kit? Can anyone recommend a drill bit size? I'm low on small drill bits and would like to just buy the proper size. Thanks!

mbohn · Post by **mbohn** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:39 am

Fulltilt wrote:Are others finding that the case needs drilling for the screws that come with the kit? Can anyone recommend a drill bit size? I'm low on small drill bits and would like to just buy the proper size. Thanks!

Do you refer to the 8 machine screws that go through the end plates and into the corners of the main case? If so, they are tight but I didn't need to drill anything out.

T3Bunny · Post by **T3Bunny** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:17 pm

heh heh heh... Don't need to drill. use the RIGHT, SNUG screwdriver OR do what I did. I got some NICE Lin- Lan annodized thumbscrews and went to town! I used a screw to tap my holes slightly (use a tap if you do this... screw broke

)

Yeah, I did NOT like the way those screws went in (the original ones), but the case is soft aluminum. Hence need to be extra carefull with the screwdriver to prevent a slip (my case is black anodized so I was SUPER paranoid about a slip up!) I also changed to the thumbscrews as I am going to be going in and out for a while till everything is just so.

Rodney Sparks · Post by **Rodney Sparks** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:05 am

I haven't had too much trouble with the MegaSquirt cases, but I've busted the heads off of screws on the relay board cases many times. I chase those holes with a 3/32" drill bit in a hand drill, and it works great. Perfectly sized hole. That's assuming you're using the 3/8" sheetmetal screws (not machine screws) that come with the cases.

I'm actually switching over to button head socket screws on my cases, and I'm getting the holes tapped by the manufacturer. I'm tired of those sheetmetal screws. The net cost of not getting the endplate countersunk and then getting the case tapped is only $0.30 per case. It's a no-brainer!

-Rodney

Daryl · Post by **Daryl** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:36 pm

Rodney,
Just a freindly suggestion:
If they are available down there, try to go to a "Robertson" type screw. Very simple, strong, and efficient.
Available in all types from wood/steel to machine screws. Once you've tried them you won't want anything else!
Daryl

----- Original Message -----
From: Rodney Sparks (rodney@rsparks.com)
To: megasquirt-list@msefi.com (megasquirt-list@msefi.com)
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 9:05 AM
Subject: Case screw drill bit size?

I haven't had too much trouble with the MegaSquirt cases, but I've busted the heads off of screws on the relay board cases many times. I chase those holes with a 3/32" drill bit in a hand drill, and it works great. Perfectly sized hole. That's assuming you're using the 3/8" sheetmetal screws (not machine screws) that come with the cases.

I'm actually switching over to button head socket screws on my cases. I'm tired of those sheetmetal screws.

-Rodney

Dedicated to helping your MegaSquirt installation go smoothly since July 2004.
-----
We also stock sensors, injector connectors and Weather Pack connectors.
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(posted by email)

Rodney Sparks · Post by **Rodney Sparks** » Mon May 02, 2005 9:19 am

Daryl wrote:Rodney,
Just a freindly suggestion:
If they are available down there, try to go to a "Robertson" type screw. Very simple, strong, and efficient.
Available in all types from wood/steel to machine screws. Once you've tried them you won't want anything else!
Daryl

Those are square drive screws, right? Yeah, I like those... I just want to use something standard so people can take their MegaSquirts apart. I am a little bit against using the tiny allen head that #4 button head screws come with, and if they end up too small, I'm going to go with standard socket head cap screws, since the socket is about 50% bigger (IIRC) than on a button head.

Thanks for the suggestion!

-Rodney

Fulltilt · Post by **Fulltilt** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:38 pm

I bought a 3/32 drill bit and it worked perfectly for the relay board case. Turns out that is the only problem. I went to predrill the MS case and the extrusion is already 3/32! No problem with those screws. It was the relay extrusion that was causing the problem. Thanks for the help!

Rodney Sparks · Post by **Rodney Sparks** » Tue May 03, 2005 9:51 pm

Fulltilt wrote:I bought a 3/32 drill bit and it worked perfectly for the relay board case. Turns out that is the only problem. I went to predrill the MS case and the extrusion is already 3/32! No problem with those screws. It was the relay extrusion that was causing the problem. Thanks for the help!

No problem! It's a little tricky to drill out those holes without hanging the drill bit up on the edge of the hole, but once you get the hang of it, it's not too hard. I thought I was gonna break off my drill bit the first time it snagged...

FYI, the tapped holes turned out nice. Just sent my cases to the anodizer today... they're gonna be BLACK! ;-)

-Rodney

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