Where the hell do I find one of these bolts?

[Fanatical Meat]

Its for a starter pulley on a snowblower. This one is pretty rusted and the other one fell between my shed's stairs to never be found again. I don't need bulk, I need minimum one maximum 4 but I'll buy more if its cost appropriate. I do not need a box of 500.
As far as I can tell its an US/Imperial 8-32 flange bolt. One guy at a hardware store thought it was a 6-32

 

[NL5]

Local hardware store? The big box stores tend to only carry super common stuff, but we have several local stores here that carry all kinds of odd fasteners. Probably have one around you somewhere.

 

[Humpy]

That there is one of them 8-32 x 5/16" hex washer head type AB (or type F might work) screws.

You might check in the electrical aisle. Those green ground screws are often that size, though less pointy.

 

[shortylickens]

My True Value has bins full of hardware that Home Depot would never carry.

 

[pcgeek11]

Hint:

That type of bolt is commonly used in automotive body assembly.

 

[NutBucket]

Looks more like a sheet metal screw to me.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Hint:

That type of bolt is commonly used in automotive body assembly.

Looks more like a sheet metal screw to me.

I thought it might be a sheet metal piece but I tried 3 auto stores without success.

 

[Humpy]

It's kind of hard to tell from a picture if a small fine threaded screw is a machine screw with a locator point to speed assembly, or a piercing sheet metal screw with spaced threads. It kinda depends on what is being fastened together.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

It's kind of hard to tell from a picture if a small fine threaded screw is a machine screw with a locator point to speed assembly, or a piercing sheet metal screw with spaced threads. It kinda depends on what is being fastened together.

two pieces of metal.

 

[Humpy]

two pieces of metal.

LOL

Yeah, but if it's thin metal fastened to thin metal a different screw type is often is used than if it's thin metal fastened to thick or cast metal.

 

[boomerang]

You're going to have to use a sheet metal screw. That fastener as was said is common in automotive applications because it is easily installed in the assembly process. The point makes it easy to get in the hole and the threads are tapered to more easily line up the holes in the pieces it is fastening together and so on and so on.

It's not a machine screw thread. You're just going to have to find the closest size in a sheet metal screw and use that. You should be able to find a hex head, but may have to go with a phillips and may not be able to get a flange head (washer incorporated into the fastener) but you aren't fastening together mission critical components to military specs.

Any competent hardware store employee should be able to find you a compatible fastener. If you really feel you need to duplicate it, go to a store that sells lawn and garden equipment and see if the parts guys have something similar or perhaps even the exact same fastener. Prepare to bend over but the cost still won't break you.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

You're going to have to use a sheet metal screw. That fastener as was said is common in automotive applications because it is easily installed in the assembly process. The point makes it easy to get in the hole and the threads are tapered to more easily line up the holes in the pieces it is fastening together and so on and so on.

It's not a machine screw thread. You're just going to have to find the closest size in a sheet metal screw and use that. You should be able to find a hex head, but may have to go with a phillips and may not be able to get a flange head (washer incorporated into the fastener) but you aren't fastening together mission critical components to military specs.

Any competent hardware store employee should be able to find you a compatible fastener. If you really feel you need to duplicate it, go to a store that sells lawn and garden equipment and see if the parts guys have something similar or perhaps even the exact same fastener. Prepare to bend over but the cost still won't break you.

Thanks, I'll try again. I was concerned about the bigger threads not matching and stripping to hole. The point really isn't important but the overall length is, plus the flange needs to be small it sits right gainst the engine. I had to use a wrench to remove it because its so tight against the engine. I cannot use a screw on the bottom mount because there is about 1 inch clearance between the deck and where this piece goes.
Its strangely frustrating finding an appropriate part.

 

[MongGrel]

I'd thought you meant a screw to actually mount a pulley on.

If it is sheet metal get the next bigger size and just wrench it in.

 

[Humpy]

It's not a machine screw thread.

How did you determine it is not a type CA Body Bolt with machine threads?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

How did you determine it is not a type CA Body Bolt with machine threads?

Where did you find this image, it looks very close to what I am looking for

 

[Humpy]

Where did you find this image, it looks very close to what I am looking for

Walmart!

Old timers might also call it a Gimlet Point.

If you search for CA point, Body Bolt, etc you find stuff.

You don't really need a pointed bolt though. You just want t o be sure to match thread type so you can torque it appropriately.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Walmart!

At the risk of being a pain in the ass do you have the link handy

Thanks

 

[boomerang]

How did you determine it is not a type CA Body Bolt with machine threads?

I didn't. I was trying to do the OP a favor and not have him searching the four corners of the universe looking for a fastener that can readily be replaced with a sheet metal screw. IMO, it's a recoil held onto a fan shroud even though he's saying starter pulley. I'm a fuss-budget who likes to use the right fasteners for the job but sometimes you've just got to decide if the end results are worth the journey. A fan shroud is not tapped, it is made of light guage metal and has holes that will readily accept a sheet metal screw.

One may spend luxurious amounts of time looking for the correct fastener when the device it goes on is not needed. But it's winter and it snows where the OP lives.

 

[Micrornd]

You could just go to any lawn mower repair shop and ask if they have any laying around.
They'll probably give you a couple.

 

[Spacehead]

I guess the big question is, is the hole that fastener goes into tapped?
Is it just going thru a thin piece & screwing into a solid piece maybe?

Maybe buy a longer 8-32 or 6-32 bolt to see which thread it is to be sure & go from there. Might also be metric depending on the snowblower make.

 

[mxnerd]

try

https://www.repairclinic.com/Shop-For-Parts/a23i937/Snowblower-Flange-Bolt-Parts

 

[paperfist]

Looks like a fender bolt...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-034-16-...o-Fender-Bolts-HEX-HEAD-SEMS-10-/161042094939

 

[pcgeek11]

Looks like a fender bolt...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-034-16-...o-Fender-Bolts-HEX-HEAD-SEMS-10-/161042094939

Thanks for supplying a picture and a source. That is exactly what it is. As I said in post # 5 " Commonly used in automotive body assembly". I didn't think they would be hard to find.

 

[paperfist]

Thanks for supplying a picture and a source. That is exactly what it is. As I said in post # 5 " Commonly used in automotive body assembly". I didn't think they would be hard to find.

Yeah but I don't think they are that commonly used anymore. Most manufacturers have moved to plastic push pins.

Though I'm surprised he couldn't find any at the local parts store. I thought they still had them in those 'help' parts bins.

 

[paperfist]

My True Value has bins full of hardware that Home Depot would never carry.

I wish we still had real hardware stores around where I live. HD & Lowes not only have a very limited supply of I guess what is now specialty items, but their hardware items quality is terrible.