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I've just had to reset the thermal cutout of my immersion heater. Whilst removing the cover, I've stupidly dropped the nut somewhere behind the tank. Fishing around with a magnet has pulled up all sorts of metal objects, but unfortunately not the nut.

Photo of the screw/bolt

The long threaded screw/bolt in the above picture goes through the hole in the cap. The nut then secures the cap in place.

The cap, with the hole the screw/bolt goes through

Will this screw (or threaded bolt, I suppose) normally be a standard size? If I were to try and buy a replacement, what should I be searching for? Or will I have to get hold of some calipers and measure the darn thing?

Tom Wright
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3 Answers3

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There's no reason it would not be a locally standard size (given a British location based on the label, presumably metric or pre-metric British Standard threading) so some basic measurements (no calipers required, if you are willing to use a ruler carefully and buy 2 or 3 nuts, one of which will be the right one) and a trip to the hardware store should find a nut to fit.

You might also try putting fine net mesh over a vacuum cleaner inlet and vacuuming for the nut, first.

Ecnerwal
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4

Dab a light coating of any oil on the outermost cm of the screw. Mix up a very small quantity of epoxy putty and form it into a nut-like ring on the oily threads near the end of the screw. It doesn't need to be hexagonal. When the epoxy hardens, unscrew it from the screw. Replace the cover and install your epoxy nut.

MTA
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3

Standard screws for fixing faceplates etc is M3.5.

tbh that could be anything - but looking at it I'd guess M5?

If you've an engineering supplies place near you then you'll get a handfull of nuts for under £1, screwfix tend not to be any good for 1 or 2 item

mark
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