Broke Screws

[Texcoonazz]

Has anyone else found an extraordinary amount of broken screws on your new Keystone. We bought a 2018 Keystone Raptor 428 a few weeks back. It was a left over from last year but still new. Everywhere I look there are either missing or broken screws. Are they over torquing these things during build or using cheap screws. I hope it is over torquing or I am going to be chasing broke screws for years.

[CaptnJohn]

Both, cheap Chinese screws and employees that cannot master a screw gun even with years of experience.

[sourdough]

The folks that put these things together, and so many other techs in other lines, have no idea about "torque" or "feeling" what the screw is encountering. We now have folks that twist until it breaks the screw or tears out the hole...shameful IMO. What do you do? I am continually walking around my trailer looking for errant screws (be sure and watch your plastic/vinyl covers over the screw lines - they raise over time due to installers that shouldn't be).

[chuckster57]

Both, cheap Chinese screws and employees that cannot master a screw gun even with years of experience.

Having spent 3 days on the Newmar assembly line, I can tell you it’s just a matter of speed. I watched a group of workers putting on a one piece roof. The had aprons with a pouch full of screws, and a screw gun. I watched as they moved down the coach reaching into the pouch and the screw gun never stopping.

[CaptnJohn]

Chuck I agree it is a matter of speed. However, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to set the torque on the dial. I had a mhc and easily determined the guy with the brad nail gun should not be trusted with anything more complicated than a broom. No pride, just hurry to be done. No such thing as craftsmanship unless it in afternoon milking.

[chuckster57]

Your right. But turn the torque down and that self tapping screw may not cut through the frame. BTDT.

[Ken / Claudia]

I would guess it's all reasons listed. Quick story, I ordered a custom built rifle paid 1300. I did as normal, I took it apart to inspect and clean the whole thing before a shot was fired. The action screws are using torex style screws. 1 had been tighten so much it cracked the wood laminate stock. What the heck was that guy thinking. I got another stock for free by sending it back right away with a letter saying they were sorry.