Tiny screws

In the vein of topic headings with double meanings....

I have a 4wt Stealth reel that I picked up in South Africa a handful
of years back. The drag mechanism was always problematic, so I took it
off and have been palming the reel, which works just fine and has
landed some very large fish (just ask Roger). However, I might want to
sell it, and a prospective owner will certainly want to know about the
little hole where the drag mechanism goes, so I am putting it back on.
However, the key piece of the mechanism is a tiny little left-hand
thread stainless screw that I seem to have lost...I have all the other
parts in pristine condition.

I've contacted the manufacturer, and he does not make this reel any
more, nor does he have any parts lying around and did not have (or was
unwilling to locate) records of who made this part for him. I've also
been to about a half-dozen hardware stores and I always get the same
frustrating conversation:
"Don't have that. What's it for?"
"Its a drag mechanism off a fly reel."
"Oh, go to a fishing shop, then."

As if a fishing shop will have a random left hand stainless screw
lying about (I've checked about 10 fishing shops, and they tell me to
go to a hardware store.

So my question: where does someone go to find a tiny little screw like
this? I am imagining a shop that sells electronic parts, or maybe a
manufacturer of screws. But this is all a bit mysterious to me. The
screw is probably about 1mm across, about 3mm long, and left hand
thread. I don't even know the thread size...I need a shop that can
help me sort all this out. Ideas?

--riverman

On Jul 19, 6:46*am, riverman wrote:
In the vein of topic headings with double meanings....

I have a 4wt Stealth reel that I picked up in South Africa a handful
of years back. The drag mechanism was always problematic, so I took it
off and have been palming the reel, which works just fine and has
landed some very large fish (just ask Roger). However, I might want to
sell it, and a prospective owner will certainly want to know about the
little hole where the drag mechanism goes, so I am putting it back on.
However, the key piece of the mechanism is a tiny little left-hand
thread stainless screw that I seem to have lost...I have all the other
parts in pristine condition.

I've contacted the manufacturer, and he does not make this reel any
more, nor does he have any parts lying around and did not have (or was
unwilling to locate) records of who made this part for him. I've also
been to about a half-dozen hardware stores and I always get the same
frustrating conversation:
"Don't have that. What's it for?"
"Its a drag mechanism off a fly reel."
"Oh, go to a fishing shop, then."

As if a fishing shop will have a random left hand stainless screw
lying about (I've checked about 10 fishing shops, and they tell me to
go to a hardware store.

So my question: where does someone go to find a tiny little screw like
this? I am imagining a shop that sells electronic parts, or maybe a
manufacturer of screws. But this is all a bit mysterious to me. The
screw is probably about 1mm across, about 3mm long, and left hand
thread. I don't even know the thread size...I need a shop that can
help me sort all this out. Ideas?

--riverman

Have you looked for an instrument maker or instrument repair shop? I
have seen shops with people who could probably make you a screw from a
nail. Now most process instrumentation is electronic and "throw
away".
The other options would be a watch maker/repair person or camera
repair shop. Better hurry the number of good watchmakers and camera
repair people is going down.
Are the threads left handed because it was marketed in South Africa?
Did the corresponding model marketed in the northern hemisphere have
right handed threads? %^)]

On Jul 19, 4:30*pm, BJConner wrote:
On Jul 19, 6:46*am, riverman wrote:





In the vein of topic headings with double meanings....

I have a 4wt Stealth reel that I picked up in South Africa a handful
of years back. The drag mechanism was always problematic, so I took it
off and have been palming the reel, which works just fine and has
landed some very large fish (just ask Roger). However, I might want to
sell it, and a prospective owner will certainly want to know about the
little hole where the drag mechanism goes, so I am putting it back on.
However, the key piece of the mechanism is a tiny little left-hand
thread stainless screw that I seem to have lost...I have all the other
parts in pristine condition.

I've contacted the manufacturer, and he does not make this reel any
more, nor does he have any parts lying around and did not have (or was
unwilling to locate) records of who made this part for him. I've also
been to about a half-dozen hardware stores and I always get the same
frustrating conversation:
"Don't have that. What's it for?"
"Its a drag mechanism off a fly reel."
"Oh, go to a fishing shop, then."

As if a fishing shop will have a random left hand stainless screw
lying about (I've checked about 10 fishing shops, and they tell me to
go to a hardware store.

So my question: where does someone go to find a tiny little screw like
this? I am imagining a shop that sells electronic parts, or maybe a
manufacturer of screws. But this is all a bit mysterious to me. The
screw is probably about 1mm across, about 3mm long, and left hand
thread. I don't even know the thread size...I need a shop that can
help me sort all this out. Ideas?

--riverman

Have you looked for an instrument maker or instrument repair shop? *I
have seen shops with people who could probably make you a screw from a
nail. *Now most process instrumentation is electronic and "throw
away".
The other options would be a watch maker/repair person or camera
repair shop. *Better hurry the number of good watchmakers and camera
repair people *is going down.
Are the threads left handed because it was marketed in South Africa?
Did the corresponding model marketed in the northern hemisphere have
right handed threads? *%^)]

All good ideas, thanks. The thread was left hand so that turning the
adjustment head for the drag did not walk the screw out. AFAIK, this
brand reel was never marketed outside of South Africa. I'll check some
watch makers when I get back to Hong Kong, as well as instrument
repair shops.

--riverman

On Jul 19, 4:30*pm, BJConner wrote:
Did the corresponding model marketed in the northern hemisphere have
right handed threads? *%^)]


And no, I'm pretty sure the Coriolis Effect had very little do to with
the threading. :-)

--riverman

On Jul 19, 10:38*am, riverman wrote:
On Jul 19, 4:30*pm, BJConner wrote:
Did the corresponding model marketed in the northern hemisphere have
right handed threads? *%^)]

And no, I'm pretty sure the Coriolis Effect had very little do to with
the threading. *:-)

--riverman

Well, it COULD.
Frank Reid
(please check out the alien invasions in China when you get back.
They (the aliens that are closing the airports) also may be able to
find the right screw)

On 07/19/2010 06:46 AM, riverman wrote:

So my question: where does someone go to find a tiny little screw like
this? I am imagining a shop that sells electronic parts, or maybe a
manufacturer of screws. But this is all a bit mysterious to me. The
screw is probably about 1mm across, about 3mm long, and left hand
thread. I don't even know the thread size...I need a shop that can
help me sort all this out. Ideas?

--riverman

Hi Riverman,

No clue. Sorry. :'(

An alternate idea you may want to run by the new
owner: re-tap the hole with a wider screw that you
have access to. A machine shop should have the
taps and all.

-T

What in the world do they fly fish for in South Africa?

On Jul 19, 8:46*pm, Todd wrote:


What in the world do they fly fish for in South Africa?

Todd...there's GREAT fishing in South Africa. East of Jo'berg there
are plenty of streams with browns and rainbows, all over the country
there are stocked ponds, of course there is plenty of salt water
fishing, and about a dozen species of Yellowfish have become a popular
target species.

Until about 8 years ago, a well known roffian had his own TV show
specializing in travelling around SA flyfishing.

--riverman

On 07/19/2010 02:19 PM, riverman wrote:
On Jul 19, 8:46 pm, wrote:


What in the world do they fly fish for in South Africa?

Todd...there's GREAT fishing in South Africa. East of Jo'berg there
are plenty of streams with browns and rainbows, all over the country
there are stocked ponds,

Very interesting. I would have thought South Africa to be too warm
for trout. Apparently, South Africa is further south than I thought.

Thank you for the education!
-T

One more time...
Go to McMaster-Carr web site.
You'll find your part.

On Jul 20, 8:19*pm, "Joel *DFD*" wrote:
One more time...
Go to McMaster-Carr web site.
You'll find your part.

I plan on it, once I find out the screw size and thread count. They
look like the best source, thanks.

--riverman