Replacing Leg Leveler T-nuts (I've got holes instead!)

Altan

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Replacing Leg Leveler T-nuts (I've got holes instead!)

Looking for advise here... I'm working on my first vid cabinet!

I found out my System 1 cabinet only has only one T-nut to hold a level leveler in place. The other three leg levelers are just jammed up into the cabinet --- looks like the wood around the original t-nuts got destroyed.

(I think T-nut is the word for the receptacle with three sharp points that stick into the cabinet. Is that right?)

I really don't want to replace the entire bottom wood portion of the cabinet. Is there a better option than just drilling new holes close to where the destroyed ones are and installing new t-nuts?

Anyone know if Home Depot or Lowes sells these t-nuts?

... Altan
 
I wouldn't use t-nuts. While that worked, I've had way too many projects, like yours, where the t-nuts came out or whatever. I would rather over-engineer that, especially since it's a modification that normally can't be seen.

You can buy leg leveler plates, here
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/parts.html
as well as some other places, I suppose.

The small leg leveler mounting plates, which are adequate, are $5/set. The larger plates, which I usually use, are $8.50/set, but often on sale. You'd probably want a new set of levelers also.

If you go this route, I'd pop the old t-nuts out, and they're probably just held in with staples. Just thread a leveler into a plate and align it with the hole that's already there. Mark where the screws that secure the plate will go, drill pilot holes, use screws to install plate. Good luck.
 
Two of the T nuts where gone on my Asteroids Mini when I got it. I bought plates for all four, installed them and have not regretted it!
 
I have done the following when the original wood wouldn't hold the t-nuts and I didn't feel like waiting for new mounting plates. The holes in the new wood line up with the original holes in the bottom and the strips are attached with crown staples. Adds 3/4" to the height of the game.

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Thanks to all. I wasn't aware of the metal plate approach. Also, the wood strip is a good solution.

I'm thinking I'll order the metal plates.

... Altan
 
I have done the following when the original wood wouldn't hold the t-nuts and I didn't feel like waiting for new mounting plates. The holes in the new wood line up with the original holes in the bottom and the strips are attached with crown staples. Adds 3/4" to the height of the game.
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Hate to break it to ya, but you used the tee-nuts incorrectly. You're supposed to put them on the other side of the wood. The way you have them now you could probably pull the levelers off with your hand.
 

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The t-nuts can be used different ways...

yup, correctly, and incorrectly. They could still have been on the other side of the new board. Drill the old ragged hole out to the diameter of the t-nut, pound it in from the inside, then screw the leveler on from the bottom with a washer on between the nut and the new board. Then it would never come off (unless you unscrewed it)
 
yup, correctly, and incorrectly. They could still have been on the other side of the new board. Drill the old ragged hole out to the diameter of the t-nut, pound it in from the inside, then screw the leveler on from the bottom with a washer on between the nut and the new board. Then it would never come off (unless you unscrewed it)

At which point the weight of the cabinet on the leveler would push the t-nut upwards, and out of the wood.
 
This is silly. T-nuts are used for mounting leg levelers as well as securing things on a pinball playfield. The way it is mounted depends on which way force is applied to it. On a playfield, it's mounted to the underside - the bolt on top pulls on it, pulling the teeth towards the wood. When they were used by Atari, they were mounted on the bottom panel and stapled on the bottom of the panel. The force on it from the weight of the cabinet would push the teeth against the wood, not away from it. Sure you can mount it on a board and the flip that board over against the cabinet bottom, but unless you just want skids, it's pointless.
 
This is silly. T-nuts are used for mounting leg levelers as well as securing things on a pinball playfield. The way it is mounted depends on which way force is applied to it. On a playfield, it's mounted to the underside - the bolt on top pulls on it, pulling the teeth towards the wood. When they were used by Atari, they were mounted on the bottom panel and stapled on the bottom of the panel. The force on it from the weight of the cabinet would push the teeth against the wood, not away from it. Sure you can mount it on a board and the flip that board over against the cabinet bottom, but unless you just want skids, it's pointless.

Exactly.

-Jim
 
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