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Posted by: BMartin914 Aug 30 2005, 11:21 AM

I currently have the bulk of my engine tin off and have ruined a few of the cheesehead screws. I am contemplating whether or not to simply buy some new cheeseheads from the local VW place and make sure to use anti-sieze on them, or should I replace the cheeseheads with another type of fastener altogether.

Any suggestions? BTDT?

Posted by: URY914 Aug 30 2005, 11:27 AM

The one's at the VW shops are pretty cheap. They are chrome and are real soft.

I've used standard hex heads bolts and used allen head bolts. I like the allen heads. The look cool and clean. You can find stainless steel ones at hardware stores or HD or Lowes.

P

Posted by: Aaron Cox Aug 30 2005, 11:28 AM

QUOTE (URY914 @ Aug 30 2005, 10:27 AM)

The one's at the VW shops are pretty cheap. They are chrome and are real soft. I've used standard hex heads bolts and used allen head bolts. I like the allen heads. The look cool and clean. You can find stainless steel ones at hardware stores or HD or Lowes. P

metric socket head cap screws

Posted by: tat2dphreak Aug 30 2005, 11:34 AM

QUOTE (URY914 @ Aug 30 2005, 12:27 PM)

I like the allen heads. The look cool and clean. You can find stainless steel ones at hardware stores or HD or Lowes. P

i got a box of cool black allen-heads @ the hardware store...

Posted by: double-a Aug 30 2005, 11:35 AM

i've wondered about this too. what's the thread pitch on those cheeseheads?

~a

Posted by: BMartin914 Aug 30 2005, 11:38 AM

Looks like we have consensus about allen head cap screws. There are different lengths though, but I guess that doesn't really matter when you are just attaching 2 pieces of tin together - more so when you re-attach the impeller housing to the case.

Posted by: type47 Aug 30 2005, 12:24 PM

6mm

Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Aug 30 2005, 01:46 PM

QUOTE (double-a @ Aug 30 2005, 09:35 AM)

i've wondered about this too. what's the thread pitch on those cheeseheads? ~a

6mm x 1. VW went to Phillips head screws for the tin in 77 and up, a pretty satisfactory move. As others have said, there are several lengths to consider, but most of the screws are about 12mm long. The Cap'n

Posted by: Engman Aug 30 2005, 02:30 PM

SS Allen head - no more rust and you can actually turn em.

M

Posted by: yeahmag Aug 30 2005, 02:39 PM

Doesn't stainless steel and aluminum set you up for some pretty nasty electrolosis? The stainless steel screws in the aluminum mast of the sailboat always make a mess... Not that I know of anything better, but some anti-seize and a steel screw may be "just as good".

-Aaron

Posted by: Engman Aug 30 2005, 02:46 PM

9+ years installed in the engine - did a little work on it this last w/e. Did not see any issues.

M

Posted by: URY914 Aug 30 2005, 02:48 PM

QUOTE (yeahmag @ Aug 30 2005, 12:39 PM)

Doesn't stainless steel and aluminum set you up for some pretty nasty electrolosis? The stainless steel screws in the aluminum mast of the sailboat always make a mess... Not that I know of anything better, but some anti-seize and a steel screw may be "just as good". -Aaron

That may be a problem in about 100 years.

Posted by: Qarl Aug 30 2005, 02:51 PM

Posted by: double-a Aug 30 2005, 03:32 PM

QUOTE (Cap'n Krusty @ Aug 30 2005, 11:46 AM)

QUOTE (double-a @ Aug 30 2005, 09:35 AM) i've wondered about this too. what's the thread pitch on those cheeseheads? ~a 6mm x 1. VW went to Phillips head screws for the tin in 77 and up, a pretty satisfactory move. As others have said, there are several lengths to consider, but most of the screws are about 12mm long. The Cap'n

good deal. i'll pick a buncha these up next time i'm over at a-boy hardware.

~a

Posted by: kwales Aug 30 2005, 03:51 PM

Actually,

It's iron and aluminum that cause the iron to rust. The high nickle content in stainless prevents the iron form rusting.

I've seen bolts (used in oceanography) made from an iron/aluminum mix that are designed to corrode in seawater. Bolts are time designed to break after immersion. Attach a buoy to an instrument package with a bolt, chunk it over the side and come back in a week. Bolt corrodes and the bouy floats up so you can find it.

Accurate within 15 minutes.

Don't be using these for your car

Ken

Posted by: tdgray Sep 9 2005, 09:28 AM

Just FYI.

I went to my local Home Depot yesterday. In thier specialty bolt section they had 6mm x 12mm allen head screws, black, two to a pack. Cost was $1.12 per pack.

I bought all they had, about twenty, $11.82 for all.

Posted by: goose2 Sep 9 2005, 09:38 AM

QUOTE

The stainless steel screws in the aluminum mast of the sailboat always make a mess...

You can buy a special thread lube in a tube at a boat rigging shop that will minimize this effect...West Marine may have it. Probably not worth worrying about though.

Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Sep 9 2005, 09:46 AM

QUOTE (tdgray @ Sep 9 2005, 07:28 AM)

Just FYI. I went to my local Home Depot yesterday. In thier specialty bolt section they had 6mm x 12mm allen head screws, black, two to a pack. Cost was $1.12 per pack. I bought all they had, about twenty, $11.82 for all.

Ya coulda gone over to John Deere or Catapillar and bought about 50 for that much.
The Cap'n

Posted by: tat2dphreak Sep 9 2005, 09:51 AM

QUOTE (Cap'n Krusty @ Sep 9 2005, 10:46 AM)

QUOTE (tdgray @ Sep 9 2005, 07:28 AM) Just FYI. I went to my local Home Depot yesterday. In thier specialty bolt section they had 6mm x 12mm allen head screws, black, two to a pack. Cost was $1.12 per pack. I bought all they had, about twenty, $11.82 for all. Ya coulda gone over to John Deere or Catapillar and bought about 50 for that much. The Cap'n

or ACE... I bought a box of 50 for $10

Posted by: tdgray Sep 9 2005, 10:02 AM

Well F'in shoot me OK

I was just letting you know that they had them there.

You guys both get your period today

Posted by: Bartlett 914 Sep 9 2005, 10:28 AM

I usually get my screws from MSC (mscdirect.com) or from Metric and multistandard components. Do a google and you wil find them.

Mark

Posted by: URY914 Sep 9 2005, 11:22 AM

QUOTE (tdgray @ Sep 9 2005, 08:02 AM)

Well F'in shoot me OK I was just letting you know that they had them there. You guys both get your period today

Posted by: goose2 Sep 9 2005, 06:02 PM

I think you need to go to Wisconsin to get a genuine cheesehead screw.

Posted by: Travis Neff Sep 9 2005, 06:08 PM

I went with the factory style fasteners from the local VW place. Looks good aftere a couple years and the price and availability was right.

Posted by: ninepfourteen Sep 12 2005, 08:08 AM

McMaster Carr has Cheese heads. Use Milk of Magnesia to prevent galling.