98 Custom bolts

ive had my 98 custom for about 5-6 months, and im afraid the bolts might be stripping, so i want to replace them before i have to drill the head off. are the bolts able to be found at any hard ware store? what size would i have to buy

ps, do your allen keys lock into the bolt perfectly, or do they slide a little before they hook into it?

jackd89 wrote: ive had my 98 custom for about 5-6 months, and im afraid the bolts might be stripping, so i want to replace them before i have to drill the head off. are the bolts able to be found at any hard ware store? what size would i have to buy ps, do your allen keys lock into the bolt perfectly, or do they slide a little before they hook into it?

The screw is a 10-32 and Allen socket head screws are readily available at most good hardware stores. The original Tippmann screws have  a shorter head than the standard Allen screw. That shorter head actually makes them more suseptable to wrench stripping than one would find with a standard Allen screw. Replacement screws will have a taller head and possibly the Allen socket will be a different size. I no longer have any of the original Tippmann screws or I would tell you the difference. Both my son's and my markers are converted to stainless hardware.

A nut and bolt supply store and even Home Depot carry these screws in stainless. Stainless are actually softer, than the usual steel used to make these screws, and require common scense care to not strip them. They are not softer than the original Tippman screws...just softer than the black steel screws normally found. The original Tippmann screws are soft.

Your wrench should fit the socket tightly and should be pressed firmly all the way to the bottom of the Allen socket before applying turning torque. Only tighten the screws tightly enough to keep the receiver halves from falling apart. Very little force is required.

hold the short end of the allen wrench , you cant torque the screw as with the longer end , and read Bruce's post.