Sunbeam Radiant Control Toaster AT-W -- Sourcing Broken Adjustment Screw and Clip

[antony]

Hi All...

My first post here... so happy for any feedback to improve (FWIW the rich text tool bar stayed greyed out in Chrome - so I couldn't put the links in-line - they are at the end - sorry)

I have just purchased one of the wonderful "automatic beyond belief"[1] 2nd hand Sunbeam Radiant Control Toasters model AT-W.  

The problem with it is I can’t control the darkness

I’ve disassembled it and it turns out the darkness adjustment screw is broken (see photo) [2]. The spring clip is also broken (sorry no photo). This is the part that holds the screw to allow it to push the mechanism that controls the bi-metalic strip distance from the toast and hence the doneness.

From the SUNBEAM APPLIANCE PARTS AND ACCESSORY LIST Feb 1, 1972 - p20-17 (reference diagram on p20-20) service manual[3] the parts I need are:

• 12R Main Adjustment Screw - Part 2343-1 (for AT-W)
• 12S Spring Clip - 83625

The main adjustment screw appears to be a standard left-hand coarse thread machine screw, but with a pinch-point rounded tip - [like this one][4] (description of this type of tip about 2/3 way down this page[5]) 

I think I can make a replacement for the spring clip (and happy for suggestions)

**But I can’t for the life of me source a machine screw with a pinch-point rounded tip.**

It doesn't need to be left-hand thread, and it doesn't need to be slotted grub/set screw... there is room for a conventional screw head and any type of head is OK - hex, slot, etc.

Any suggestions of where to get such an item?


[1]: http://www.automaticbeyondbelief.org/dating.htm
[2]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/Cbaxu.jpg
[3]: https://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~371~~
[4]: http://resources.tannerbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pinch-point.jpg
[5]: https://resources.tannerbolt.com/articles/what-screw-point-is-this-understanding-screw-point-styles/

 

[texaskirbyguy]

This may be a situation where you have to get creative...

First you can try to use a dremel cutting wheel to cut a new slot in the screw. It may have to be shallow but might work. (Old one already broke, so can't break it more...)

If the above fails, obtain a screw with same threads and cut the head off, then dremel in a new slot, then use a grinder to make the balled end. If you look at the picture, it looks like it ground from the beginning.
If you lack a grinder, you could start with a long screw, chuck it in a drill or drill press and run a file on the tip or give it a ball.

I have one of these toasters and I love it. Check this video for its exact operation. This antique design blows away modern toasters.


Video of repair and adjustments...

 

[madman]

Honestly I'm still upset that Alec had the Techmoan Effect on a friggin' TOASTER, of all things.

The solution may yet be even simpler than Texaskirbyguy suggests... you might just be able to use any old machine screw that has the same thread.

Or, it may be ever more complicated. Picture makes it look like a left hand thread screw. You're gonna have to identify the diameter and thread pitch, and probably have to order it from McMaster, or some similar place.

 

[zenith12]

I have a sunbeam vista

The one I have has a similar problem it make charcoal if you set it in the middle and as I use it the problems getting worse now i havto keep it almost in the off position

 

[madman]

The contacts are probably burned and welding to each other.

 

[luxkid1980]

I have one of these too, a Sunbeam T-20. There’s really no toaster available new today that compares to the radiant control Sunbeams. Mine came from a thrift shop where someone dropped it off as the lowering mechanism was no longer working correctly and it needed a new cord set. I took it all apart and cleaned it, put on a new cord and made some minor adjustments and it works like new. This was several years ago.