Fan Oven Screw Won't Grip

InMyHO · 23 Jun 2016

The cover for the fan in our fan oven has fallen off. This is a stamped plate with two tongues at the bottom and one screw at the top to hold it. The single self-tap tapered screw appeared to have been secured into the insulation behind the lining as the hole in the metal is much too large for it to have provided any purchase - it is larger than the hole in the plate! How the screw ever held is a mystery to me as the insulation looks to be white powdery stuff incapable of gripping the screw.

Anyone got any ideas as to what I can do to get a new screw to hold?

alan333 · 23 Jun 2016

Fit a 'nut' behind the "hole in the metal", and screw your screw through into it. When I say 'nut' I mean anything which would hold against your screw threads, like a small piece of flat metal with a hole drilled in it etc.

InMyHO · 23 Jun 2016

This makes sense Alan. Of course the only thing I can insert behind the hole in the back of the oven is something smaller than the hole. This then means that the nut can come out again.

Getting around behind that plate would mean completely removing and disassembling the oven. Even if I did that though I am worried that the insulation is actually non-removable and that I just can't get behind the plate at the back of the oven anyway.

rsgaz · 23 Jun 2016

The quick and easy fix would be to drill and tap the hole and just use a machine screw in place of the self tapping one. Just don't overtighten the screw or you'll be back to square one (but with an even bigger hole!). For something a bit more heavy duty you need something like these rivnuts...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182064840166

They are meant to clench up behind the sheet metal, like this...

But the diameter of the hole needs to be pretty dead on or it will just rotate instead of clenching up.

Gaz

Diyisfun · 23 Jun 2016

Drill a new hole in both parts.

InMyHO · 23 Jun 2016

rsgaz said:
For something a bit more heavy duty you need something like these rivnuts...

Thanks for the advice Gaz. I need to work out what size the hole is now and what clearance I have at the back. Have you any idea whether these nuts are OK at 500 degrees centigrade?

I know this is hot compared with most ovens but it is the temperature ours goes up to.

rsgaz · 23 Jun 2016

InMyHO said:
whether these nuts are OK at 500 degrees centigrade?

Well, they are steel, so yes, just don't get the aluminium version!! (whilst 500°C is below the melting point of aluminium, metals will soften well below their melting point)

rocks1 · 23 Jun 2016

Or drill a small hole 2 MM. Near the other hole and use the same screw all your doing is moving the screw hole a few cm.

Diyisfun · 23 Jun 2016

rocks1 said:
Or drill a small hole 2 MM. Near the other hole and use the same screw all your doing is moving the screw hole a few cm.

That's what I said, cant see what the fuss is about.

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Fan Oven Screw Won't Grip

Similar threads