phillips head screws on the mci entry door

[christopher]

anyone know where i can get the big phillips screws on the upper hinge of the mci entry door?
i have been unsuccessful w/ mci.
i need eight of them. i think they are 3/8" fine thread
thanx christopher
mci5c

[Busted Knuckle]

Locally I'd try to places HCI Supply or Fastenal! Both are industrial hardware supply companies. Also might check and see if you have a Grainger Co. near you! FWIW!   BK 

[Ncbob]

Christopher, I've had a lot of bolts out of various places on my MC5 and have yet to see a 3/8-24 thread on doors and/or moldings, etc. But since yours is a Saudi Model...it might be different....all the bolts I've taken out or replaced were 5/16-18 or 3/8-16 thread.

MCI was great about using fine thread bolts to hold components subject to vibration on the mechanical side..but I'd bet that Jim Robinson will be along here in a bit with the answer...he has an MC5C.

For some strange reason fine thread bolts seems to be absent from most of the hardware suppliers' shelves these days...it's the old 'buy what we've got...not what you want' philosophy and it burns my posterior!

If they can save money by pushing you to buy what they have in stock they've effectively cut their inventory costs in half!

Stick to your guns and do it your way!

Bob

[Stan]

When the MC-5 was built, MCI didn't use any 3/8" Oval Head Cross Recess Machine Screws (MCI designation). They did use 5/16" in both coarse and fine thread in both steel and stainless steel and some aluminum. The one closest to your requirement is Steel Zinc Plate 5/16-24 x 7/8' long, (fine thread) part #19-1-120. The only other possibility is stainless steel (18-8) 5/16"-18 x 5/8" (coarse thread) part #19-1-69.

If someone has modified your hinge and door then all suggestions are moot.

[JackConrad]

Here is a supplier I use for nuts, bolts, and screws.  They have a supply of just about every nut, bolt and screw ever thought of.  They also have printable "lay on" charts you can use to determine bolt size and thread pitch, as well as printable charts with bolt grade markings, tap & drill bit size cahrts (US & Metric) as well as other charts. Overall, a very informative website when it comes to fasteners.   Hope this helps, Jack

http://www.boltdepot.com/

[christopher]

5/16 x 24 by 7/8 fine thread is correct. i think when i used that part number the head of the screw was a lot smaller. these screws connect the upper hinge to the door.
the screws are a soft metal.
ill keep looking
thanx for the replys
chris

[Stan]

Screws are made to certain standards and the head diameter of a 5/16" flathead is between .568" and .635" so it can vary about 1/16". If the countersunk hole is larger than this then the only other possibility I can think of is that the screw had countersunk lockwasher under the head. MCI used these in 1/4" (19-2-34) but not 5/16" so it is possible that they used a 5/16" screw with a captive lockwasher but that should have a part number on the body page showing the door components. I can't find any other possibility in the hardware catalog.

[Tom Y]

Christopher, 3/8 fine is probally right. I have a MCI 9 door and they are 3/8  fine. They are not soft, as I had to cut a couple.  Tom Y 

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:    Happens that we are working on the 72 MCI 7 door at the moment.  The upper hinge screws are 5/16 fine thread.  THe bus was hit and the passenger side bumperette was pushed in leaving a big gap and alot of wind noise .My first repair was to get the door off the hinges and none of the screws would budge. It was a big problem getting the old screws out so I vowed that would not happen again. So my solution was to use a hex head grade 5 bolt with a lockwasher and neverseize . My wife painted the bolt heads black to match the hinge. Those bolts have been in place for 6 years without a problem.  If you are a purist and want what the designers used originally then this will not work for you.  Remember the bus manufacturers used what was available and what would fit the tooling they had to put things together with.  FYI I have a spare door and two of the bolt holes (the left side nearest the front corner) are different then on my bus.  one of those holes was a 3/8 NC thread where in the past someone had a problem and repaired the hole by drilling and tapping larger.  SO you will find anything in these buses and your solutions can be as innovative as you wish. We have devoted some effort to get the door and frame right to minimize wind noise and seal the doorway..Do not know yet how successful this endeavor will be.     Regards   Mike   

[Tom Y]

The door I have has all 3/8 and the way they came out it must have been the first time. It was an early 80s  9.   Tom Y