Screw sizes

[scudo]

Does the Kirby (G4) use imperial thread on screws.
(UK)I am trying to get a screw for the Wedge - Slide Adjustment.
Does anyone know what measurements I should be looking for as I hopefully can buy on ebay.

My estimate is 1 inch x 5/32 (3,6 mm)The screws that are used on the main body cover appear to be the correct thread but not quite long enough.

I could order a screw from America but £15 postage is a bit steep.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

scudo

I am sure that what you are dealing with are Phillips-head screws.

Most of these can be purchased at your local hardware store, if you try to research what size the screw you want is. For example, the two screws that hold down the clips for the toe-touch control are size #8-32 x 3/8, while those for the two front wheels are size #10-32 x 3/8.

~Ben[this post was last edited: 5/17/2021-17:15]

 

[bikerray]

G4 used Phillips head screws.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

bikerray

Ray,

I think the G4 (what he has) was the last machine to do so, since I know my G5 built in December 1997 uses Torx screws.

~Ben

 

[scudo]

From the image using screws from the casing which are the same thread, trouble is I dont know what measurements to use when trying to order, in the uk we are metric which I dont think Kirby are so that rules out going to a hardware store as they wont stock them.
Are they whitworth / Imperial?

No 1 in the image is the same thread wise as the other 2 which hold the casing.

 

[louvac]

Proprietary components....

Kirby, as well as many other manufacturers use components that are exclusive to their products. Kirby uses many proprietary screws that are specific to their many models. Though the sizes may be common the lengths may not be. Some clips and harnesses on machines may be specifically designed for a particular application.

I would suggest going to a Kirby dealer or contacting Kirby directly. Don't force the wrong screw or you may damage the cast housing. You may be able to interchange the screw with a Torx screw of the same size for the same location. But, not sure on this one.

 

[lesinutah]

Can i

Just throw something out there and I'm not trying to be rude.
Do you think maybe all the g4 posts should be on one thread.

 

[bikerray]

Ben

I have a G4 and yes it was the last model to use Phillips screws. It also shares the brush roll with the G3 so the wear indicator light is on the left when you stand behind it.

 

[madman]

Whitworth and Imperial are two very different things. Technically, the US bolt / thread standard is not 'Imperial' so to speak. You'll often see it called 'SAE' which is a misnomer, because that's the Society of Automotive Engineers. If anything, it'd probably be ANSI, but it's one of those things that everyone calls it by a different name. You lot used Whitworth through WW2 which caused a LOT of problems for both of us, because we had to work on each others' airplanes and tanks. You guys wised up and immediately adopted the US's thread standards right after the war.

Then y'all decided to go metric just 10 years later. >_>

That being the case, you might actually have an easier time finding Whitworth screws, than American ones. Still, there must be some seller that would have them. An industrial supplier, most likely. There must be machines made from 1949 - 1960 that are still in operation.

However, the one thing you should have no trouble finding is a screw thread gauge / pitch gauge for inch and metric. Check amazon. A cheapie one will do. Good thing to have around anyway. Also, if you have trouble finding screws in the correct length, cutting #8 or 10 screws is super easy, they are very soft.

 

[huskyvacs]

The screws he is looking for are these

they are just simple pan head machine screws. Not sure on the length. Kirby is a US company, so the threads will be in SAE. Go into any hardware store in the UK and look for SAE style screws that are long enough to fit. Buy several sizes if you have to and try them out until you get a match, then return the ones you do not need. You cannot put a metric screw into an SAE thread, it does not work that way. Square peg, round hole type of deal.

If the screw hunt fails, they do sell and have Kirby centers in the UK all over the place, shoot one of them an eMail and tell them what you are looking for, they likely will have a screw off a parts unit they can post to you for a couple quid.

 

[scudo]

I got a local guy to check the thread, he reckons it is...
UNC 32 tpi 1/8 equivalent wire gauge = No6 or No 8.
Going by previous comments it looks like it is an no 8.

 

[madman]

In common parlance:
#8-32

 

[scudo]

Now solved I got some #8-32 on ebay and a perfect fit.

 

[madman]

Nice!