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So I think this is likely a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I bought a headlight from an ebay seller and because of poor packaging the vertical center adjustment screw was snapped off. Gluing it back together just on the broken surface ends will not be strong enough, and of course no glue can get on the threads. I am considering a possible fix of drilling down the center of each piece maybe 3/8", and inserting a cut off piece of a stainless steel screw with epoxy to bridge the break and give it some strength.
Before going through that effort I'm checking here if anyone has a broken headlight that would be willing to part with this screw. The screw fits into a split nylon bracket inside the headlight. There is no need to take apart the headlight to remove it. There is enough give in the attaching bracket inside that when unscrewing the screw the little balled end will just pop out of the bracket while unscrewing it from the case.
So I think this is likely a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I bought a headlight from an ebay seller and because of poor packaging the vertical center adjustment screw was snapped off. Gluing it back together just on the broken surface ends will not be strong enough, and of course no glue can get on the threads. I am considering a possible fix of drilling down the center of each piece maybe 3/8", and inserting a cut off piece of a stainless steel screw with epoxy to bridge the break and give it some strength.
Before going through that effort I'm checking here if anyone has a broken headlight that would be willing to part with this screw. The screw fits into a split nylon bracket inside the headlight. There is no need to take apart the headlight to remove it. There is enough give in the attaching bracket inside that when unscrewing the screw the little balled end will just pop out of the bracket while unscrewing it from the case.
Front page headline news “Toolman finally screwed”.
Seriously, you should get lucky on this there have been lots of smashed headlights and someone must still have one to help you out.
If push came to shove you could make one from brass, plastic or something non rusting, the Toolman cannot be foiled.
Last edited by onehundred80; Jul 24, 2020 at 11:42 AM.
I'll bet that piece has a metric thread! Can you measure its diameter (in millimeters, preferably)? Do you have a metric nut that threads onto the piece? It should be easy to make a replacement on a lathe, starting with a machine screw.
It's an M8 x 1.25 and is almost 4" long. Using a lathe to make one from a machine screw is certainly an option. I have a HF mini metal lathe and know how to use it, but my preference is to stick with the factory part if I can.
You reminded me that I had one of my middle school metal shop projects. That was my first lathe thread.
It's an M8 x 1.25 and is almost 4" long. Using a lathe to make one from a machine screw is certainly an option. I have a HF mini metal lathe and know how to use it, but my preference is to stick with the factory part if I can.
You reminded me that I had one of my middle school metal shop projects. That was my first lathe thread.
That's nice work for a middle school student.
It may be difficult finding an M8 screw 4 inches long; I agree, finding the OEM part will be less labor intensive.
So I think this is likely a long shot, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I bought a headlight from an ebay seller and because of poor packaging the vertical center adjustment screw was snapped off. Gluing it back together just on the broken surface ends will not be strong enough, and of course no glue can get on the threads. I am considering a possible fix of drilling down the center of each piece maybe 3/8", and inserting a cut off piece of a stainless steel screw with epoxy to bridge the break and give it some strength.
Before going through that effort I'm checking here if anyone has a broken headlight that would be willing to part with this screw. The screw fits into a split nylon bracket inside the headlight. There is no need to take apart the headlight to remove it. There is enough give in the attaching bracket inside that when unscrewing the screw the little balled end will just pop out of the bracket while unscrewing it from the case.
Give me a couple days. I have what you need, and will gladly mail it to you, but first give me the time to receive a "new" headlight assembly in the mail. If we are both lucky I will have your part mailed to you around the end of this month.
I am considering a possible fix of drilling down the center of each piece maybe 3/8", and inserting a cut off piece of a stainless steel screw with epoxy to bridge the break and give it some strength
A very generous forum member privately shared with me that he is sending me a replacement adjusting bolt/screw. I very much appreciate his help. Many thanks!
Looking for headlight vertical leveling screw
but my preference is to stick with the factory part if I can.
