Gaucho hold down screws

[cwf]

Howdy..
Well, we removed our Gaucho(sofa bed) for the flooring repair/replacement. While removing, I noticed the bolt hold down screw which was self-tapping, was pulled out. In fact, rusted and pulled out!

It is one of the last things to get resolved on my 'list'..

I am not sure, does this bolt/screw go into the box frame of the chassis or into another welded tab under the floor?

I tried a standard 'lag' bolt of next size but it won't bite into the steel, just peels off the threads.

Do I 'tap' and install regular machine screw? Can't seem to source an appropriate 'size' screw to do the job here. Drilling the hole larger for a lag or other type is one of the easiest, but may not be the 'right' choice..

So, fellow AS healers.. what say you for a repair modus operandi?

Thanks in advance!

[Ridgerunner3]

I tapped threads to the next size. Then I used an all-thread stud long enough to screw all of the way to the bottom of the box frame and still up out of the subflloor enough to attach the sofa frame. I used this approach because I felt it was more stable and long lasting. To remove the sofa you just remove the nuts and sofa lifts off the studs. Easy to replace sofa without needing to search for bolt holes in the floor.

We found we had a problem when we used the sofa as a folded out bed. When someone sat down on the edge of the bed, the whole sofa flipped over and stripped out all four bolt holes.

[perryg114]

You need hardened self tapping screws or they will wring off. I when through this on the belly skins. I ended up getting some hardened self drilling stainless steel screws and they worked but you still need a pilot hole. I got these at the local bolt and fastener place. Standard 18-8 alloy stainless won't cut the mustard with anything but sheet metal. Tapping the frame with 1/4-20 or 10-32 machine threads might work ok and you don't need to worry about the hardness of the screw. I attached my new floor sections with 1/4-20 elevator bolts by tapping first and then installing the bolts. This is how the floor was originally put in and is would only option when you can't get to the other side to install a nut.

Perry