New oven, plug screw won't tighten - need advice!

Submitted by shradams t3_117fjty in DIY

Hi all, hoping this is the right place to post this. I have googled and can not find a good answer here. I just got delivered a brand new samsung oven and am installing the three prong plug. After some wrangling with the new stiff cord, I've managed to get 2 out of 3 in but the third screw won't tighten. I've tried it without the cord and from multiple angles, switched out the other screws to see if that was the issue but no dice. It gets in about half way and then won't tighten any more. I'm thinking the hole isn't threaded properly.

What's a good solution here? Adding washers? Or will I need to call Samsung and get a new oven - not ideal as they took my old one away!

Here's a picture: https://imgur.com/6bgWx58

TIA!

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Comments

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[deleted] t1_j9bbqbk wrote

No electrician here but perhaps just attach it to the other screw along with the existing two wires.

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Ahab_Ali t1_j9beldm wrote

NEH either, but that seems like it would be an obvious solution. There is no particular need for it to be on a different screw except for convenience.

Another solution is just to use a shorter screw.

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essaitchthrowaway3 t1_j9br9vm wrote

Zoom in on that bad hole. Then zoom in on one of the good ones.

Do the good ones look like they are threaded in deeper than the bad hole?

Are you sure there is nothing in the bad hole? Could be packing material.

Does the screw look normal (fully threaded and not mangled up)?

Is this screw longer than the other screws?

I would either cut the length of the screw or tap the hole a little further in. Its gonna be a standard metric size. You can measure it with a pair of calipers. You can cut the screw down a little too as long as you get between 6 and 8 full rotations. A set of taps could be purchased for like $10 to 20 at Harbor Freight.

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windy496 t1_j9bu8zi wrote

Whatever solution you use, don't over tighten the screw. As an ex service tech, I see that people tend to over tighten and strip screws.

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nhorvath t1_j9cspx2 wrote

But also don't leave it loose. My friend melted the terminal block on his oven because of a loose connection.

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usedTP t1_j9bda0p wrote

Are all the screws the same color?

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shradams OP t1_j9bw807 wrote

Thanks all! After also consulting with my father in law I tried a single washer to see if I could get it tight that way and it’s worked! Any electricians feel free to let me know if that was a bad idea but oven is functional and seems to be operating fine. I didn’t want to mess with the hole if I could try a simpler way first.

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_WalkItOff_ t1_j9ffx1w wrote

Did you put the washer between the screw head and the wire, or between the wire and the connection block? Between the screw head and the wire is better.

If it was me, I would ID the part number of the connection block (the black assembly) either from your User Manual or by looking online - and either request the part from the manufacturer (who probably will send it free) or order it online.

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shradams OP t1_j9giv7n wrote

I put it in between the screw and the wire yes so the wire connector is connecting directly with the the connection block. I'll look into a replacement part but it's working right now and I can at least cook!

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tatpig t1_j9cbizj wrote

glad you got it working. my first thought was it might be a return that someone crossthreaded or stripped.

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that_other_goat t1_j9fj0jw wrote

New oven? that's a service call.

They either didn't tap the screw threads correctly or it's been stripped either way that part has to be replaced. Anyone who tells you anything differently is insane.

Don't fuck around with electricity it always wins.

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legomanfred t1_j9kelbh wrote

Can you not put it under the screw that's still there? It's just a buss bar.

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IblinkfanA t1_j9bi88s wrote

Buy a tap set and tap it.

Alternatively, the black plastic piece that your wires are attached to can probably be removed and a replacement sourced for.

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ZombieHoratioAlger t1_j9bh5su wrote

Take that screw to the hardware store (preferably a real old-school one, not HD or Lowe's) and tell them you need a self-tapping screw one size larger.

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rpapafox t1_j9bhamw wrote

Try using a hex nut driver. You will be able to get better torque on the screw. Add a little oil to the screw and when the screw stops moving, back it out a half turn, then tighten it again. Continue backing out and retightening as long as each time that you retighten, it advances a little further.

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essaitchthrowaway3 t1_j9brj9b wrote

Don't fuck with the screw. I suggested he tap the hole a little deeper, but you do it with a tap, not by trying to push that screw in there. He can get a tap set for like $10.

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SolidPoint t1_j9cga2u wrote

This level of novice has no business trying to tap this hole as the first option fam

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essaitchthrowaway3 t1_j9choo0 wrote

The hole is already partially threaded. Tapping it further would be super easy and almost fool-proof

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Traditional_Big_2500 t1_j9d0ubq wrote

I agree with tapping the hole. Just need to make sure op mark the tap at the same length as the screw with some tape. Use cutting oil and clean threads before inserting screw.

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scarrface112 t1_j9bjqiq wrote

Try using a slightly bigger screw - you could try a metric one which are slightly bigger than SI sizes

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