Problem attaching fans to radiator

S

Shocked

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
373
This might seem like a silly question... but it's completely stumping me.

It seems like these screws just refuse to penetrate the screw holes in the radiator (Swiftech MCR 320 Drive Rev3). Yeah, the screws that came with it.

It's hard enough lining up the fans properly when trying to attach them and the radiator to the top of my case simultaneously, but I can't even seem to do it just as a test run outside the case without fearing I'm going to break something.

The screws definitely LOOK bigger than the screw holes, but only by a bit.

Am I missing something obvious?
 
I'm not sure about that particular radiator but sometimes there is a little extra paint on the screw holes that makes it look like the screw holes are smaller than they really are. Sometimes you just have to use a little force but be careful to not cross-thread them!
 
Just doesn't seem to be catching... I can twist the screwdriver for five minutes, and the screw won't catch in the dang hole.

I went out and bought a cordless screwdriver, which was maybe a bad idea because it just dies the moment I apply pressure. :(
 
Shocked said:
Just doesn't seem to be catching... I can twist the screwdriver for five minutes, and the screw won't catch in the dang hole.

I went out and bought a cordless screwdriver, which was maybe a bad idea because it just dies the moment I apply pressure. :(
Click to expand...

What if you used an ordinary "manual" :rolleyes: screwdriver and tried to insert the screws into the radiator without a fan?

If you are that concerned about a problem where you might break something, what if you got the specs for the screws, and bought some of the same screws (but not too long!) from a hardware store? Then try to insert those screws.
 
x509 said:
What if you used an ordinary "manual" :rolleyes: screwdriver and tried to insert the screws into the radiator without a fan?

If you are that concerned about a problem where you might break something, what if you got the specs for the screws, and bought some of the same screws (but not too long!) from a hardware store? Then try to insert those screws.
Click to expand...
I tried it without the fan - it's too difficult to keep the screw upright, manual screwdriver or not.

I actually have two sets of screws - short ones that came with the package (that I can't use because my fans don't have open corners), and long ones I got at Home Depot to replace the ones I misplaced (but they match Swiftech's specs which they mention in the manual in case you need to buy new screws - 6-32 x 1 1/4"). I've tried both and neither actually want to work, but both sets appear to be identical except in length so I guess that shouldn't be surprising.

At this point I'm not even sure how much harder I can press. I almost want to break out the super glue and duct tape but I'm pretty sure that would end badly. :p
 
So it turns out my cordless screwdriver just needed a little more of a charge.

But something's definitely wrong, because now I'm stripping the threads off the screws. :(
 
stripping the threads off the screws? Did you manage to find some special styrofoam screws or something?
 
Stripped might be the wrong word - maybe flattened, it's hard to tell. In either case, I'm not sure what's going on because it's the same 6-32 size listed in the instructions but it just looks like they're definitely too wide. (In the screw's defense, I was pressing pretty dang hard)

EDIT:

Stripped screw
Stripping paint off around mounting hole

From manual said:
Default: using the provided long Philips screws (M3,5 X 30mm or 6-32 x 1 1/4”), thru the computer panel, the fan and to the radiator
(with or without fan guard at your choice), as shown below
Click to expand...
 
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Shocked said:
Stripped might be the wrong word - maybe flattened, it's hard to tell. In either case, I'm not sure what's going on because it's the same 6-32 size listed in the instructions but it just looks like they're definitely too wide. (In the screw's defense, I was pressing pretty dang hard)

EDIT:

Stripped screw
Stripping paint off around mounting hole
Click to expand...

Maybe it's time to call support. Guys, what do you all think?
 
I sent them an e-mail, but it's the weekend, and not sure if they'll be there tomorrow during Labor Day. Was hoping to get this done while I had some free time, but at this point I'll be happy to have a solution at all. Might just have to wait another week.

Hopefully haven't abused the radiator too much trying to get this to work, trying to grip it in different ways. Didn't think it was that delicate. Has some bent fins but I don't think I broke any water channel connections. Filled it up and ran it in its own tiny loop for a bit - if there were anything to worry about it would be pretty obvious, I assume?

I'm usually a dunce and wind up learning by mistake. :p Though to be fair... I don't even remember being this confused when I built my first actual computer, though it's getting hard to remember at this point.
 
Shocked said:
I sent them an e-mail, but it's the weekend, and not sure if they'll be there tomorrow during Labor Day. Was hoping to get this done while I had some free time, but at this point I'll be happy to have a solution at all. Might just have to wait another week.

Hopefully haven't abused the radiator too much trying to get this to work, trying to grip it in different ways. Didn't think it was that delicate. Has some bent fins but I don't think I broke any water channel connections. Filled it up and ran it in its own tiny loop for a bit - if there were anything to worry about it would be pretty obvious, I assume?

I'm usually a dunce and wind up learning by mistake. :p Though to be fair... I don't even remember being this confused when I built my first actual computer, though it's getting hard to remember at this point.
Click to expand...

That is really odd. I wonder if the holes weren't tapped properly or something. According to all the info I can find the MCR series of radiators should be 6-32 threaded, and I can't tell the size but the threading on that screw is definitely 32 if it is 1 1/4" long. So it looks like it should be the right screw, but it obviously isn't.
 
Erasmus354 said:
That is really odd. I wonder if the holes weren't tapped properly or something. According to all the info I can find the MCR series of radiators should be 6-32 threaded, and I can't tell the size but the threading on that screw is definitely 32 if it is 1 1/4" long. So it looks like it should be the right screw, but it obviously isn't.
Click to expand...
The fans that came with it supposedly came pre-attached according to the instructions (I think I vaguely remember removing them before storing the thing away for a while until I got a case better compatible with the thing). So I assume it worked somehow. :(

http://www.swiftech.org/Installation_guides/Installation_guide-H20-X20-EDGE-HD-EN.pdf (radiator came in that package, though I modified some things like using my own fans, different tubing and distilled water instead of the HydrX)

Home Depot 6-32 x 1 1/4" vs Swiftech 6-32 x 3/8"

I asked some guys at Lowes and another Home Depot if there was ever any variation, but got the answer I was expecting which is "6-32 is 6-32". But since Swiftech's screws don't want to work either I shouldn't be too surprised.
 
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Shocked said:
The fans that came with it supposedly came pre-attached according to the instructions (I think I vaguely remember removing them before storing the thing away for a while until I got a case better compatible with the thing). So I assume it worked somehow. :(

http://www.swiftech.org/Installation_guides/Installation_guide-H20-X20-EDGE-HD-EN.pdf (radiator came in that package, though I modified some things like using my own fans, different tubing and distilled water instead of the HydrX)

Home Depot 6-32 x 1 1/4" vs Swiftech 6-32 x 3/8"

I asked some guys at Lowes and another Home Depot if there was ever any variation, but got the answer I was expecting which is "6-32 is 6-32". But since Swiftech's screws don't want to work either I shouldn't be too surprised.
Click to expand...

Swiftech, being a more value priced radiator line, compared to other manufacturers, usually have problems like these more often.

I had two MCR's back in the day where the screw holes were just a few millimeters off, which made getting a fan mounted a huge pain. Try to loosely thread a screw on the opposite corners of the fans first then fully tighten when the screws have a little catch into the threads.

Might also have to manhandle the mount area by pushing the fan around when trying to get screws to catch the threads.
 
well I would say maybe homedepot gave you the wrong screws but if the original screws dont work either.... Maybe swiftech recently changed their screws to m4s or something only thing i can think of is buying different screws or if you can take the mounting art of te radiator off do so and try screwing it in backwards
 
It took me a while to hear back from them but it seems I actually need m3.5 x 30mm screws. They're mentioned in the manual as well but it makes them sound interchangeable - for some reason I thought it was just a metric equivilent as opposed to a completely different thread. Doesn't explain why the short screws they provided don't work, but oh well.

Trouble is I'm having trouble finding them. Doesn't seem like Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware have them... seems Microcenter and Radio Shack carry smaller screws than the typical hardware stores but I can't find that precise thread and length.

Amazon has some m3.5-0.6 x 30mm machine screws, but I'm not sure what the 0.6 is. Was curious if anyone knows if it's the same thing?
 
Shocked said:
It took me a while to hear back from them but it seems I actually need m3.5 x 30mm screws. They're mentioned in the manual as well but it makes them sound interchangeable - for some reason I thought it was just a metric equivilent as opposed to a completely different thread. Doesn't explain why the short screws they provided don't work, but oh well.

Trouble is I'm having trouble finding them. Doesn't seem like Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware have them... seems Microcenter and Radio Shack carry smaller screws than the typical hardware stores but I can't find that precise thread and length.

Amazon has some m3.5-0.6 x 30mm machine screws, but I'm not sure what the 0.6 is. Was curious if anyone knows if it's the same thing?
Click to expand...

http://www.mcmaster.com/#machine-screw-fasteners/=ohuzlq
 
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