Tornado Screw #8-32 x 3/8 in. 02995

The Tornado Screw #8-32 x 3/8 in. 02995 is the genuine OEM machine screw used on the main assembly of the PS Series professional spotters. The machine uses four. It also fits the Tornado PS8226 Spotter 98226, the 230-volt build of the deluxe PS Series spotter.

Compatible Models for Screw 02995

• Tornado PS Spotter 98220 — PS Series professional spotter, 115V
• Tornado PS8221 Spotter 98221 — the 230-volt build of the same spotter
• Tornado PS8225 Spotter 98225 — deluxe PS Series spotter
• Tornado PS8226 Spotter 98226 — the 230-volt build of the deluxe PS Series spotter, Series D & E

Tornado’s factory cross-reference returns this screw across Series C through G of the 98220, Series F and G of the 98221, and the 98225 — the spotter family and nothing outside it. We publish only the models we can confirm against Tornado’s current catalog; call us at 763-535-0770 with your model and serial number if yours is not listed.

Several #8-32 screws, several part numbers — order by the number

This is the part of the machine where it is easiest to fit the wrong fastener, so it is worth being explicit. The 98220 uses #8-32 screws in at least three different lengths under three different part numbers: 02995 at 3/8 inch, 00600 at 3/4 inch and 19255 at 1/2 inch, all on the main assembly. The threads are identical. The lengths are not.

A longer screw in a 3/8 inch position can bottom out before it clamps, pass through into whatever sits behind the panel, or clamp on the wrong face — and because it goes in and feels tight, nothing looks wrong. A shorter one does not engage enough thread to hold.

There is also a separate catalog item, 15475, listed as a #8-32 x 3/8 inch Phillips flat-head machine screw. The shared thread and length do not make it the same part: a flat head needs a countersink, a pan head does not, and the two are not interchangeable in the same hole. Order by the number printed on your sheet, and if you are unsure, call us with the serial number rather than matching by eye from a mixed tray.

What it holds and why the small stuff matters

Screws in this size range hold panels, covers, brackets and small components rather than carrying structural loads. That makes them easy to dismiss, and it is exactly why they cause trouble: a cover that is not properly held becomes a cover that rattles, then a cover whose gasket stops sealing, and on a wet machine a seal that stops working is the beginning of a real fault.

Because the machine shakes continuously in use — a vacuum motor and a solution pump inside one compact housing — every small fastener on it is being worked for its whole life. That is why the parts book pairs many of them with a lock washer, and why leaving the washer out is as consequential as leaving the screw loose.

When to replace it

Replace any screw whose drive recess is damaged. A cammed-out Phillips cross will not take full torque and will strip completely on the next attempt, usually at the least convenient moment. Replace any with a stretched, galled or stripped thread, a bent shank, a cracked or deformed head, or visible corrosion.

Because the assembly uses four and they cost very little, keep spares to hand before starting a job rather than discovering a chewed head halfway through. A fastener is the cheapest thing on the machine and the one most likely to stop a repair.

If a screw will not hold torque and the screw itself is sound, the thread in the mating part has failed — a new screw will not fix that, and it is a different repair.

Fitting notes

Use a driver bit that properly fills the recess. The commonest reason a Phillips head strips is a bit one size too small, which contacts only the tips of the cross and cams straight out under load.

Tighten to a firm, even clamp and stop. A #8 screw pulling down a plastic moulding or thin sheet needs very little, and over-tightening either strips the thread in the mating part or cracks the material around the hole — damage you will not see until something leaks or rattles. Where several screws hold one panel, bring them up progressively in a crossing pattern so the panel seats flat and any gasket under it compresses evenly. Fit the lock washer the parts book specifies for the position rather than leaving it out.

Twin City Vacuum has been selling and servicing Tornado equipment since 1956 and keeps PS Series spotter hardware on the shelf in Crystal, Minnesota.

You can browse every assembly for this machine on our Tornado PS Spotter 98220 parts page, and the manufacturer’s specifications are published at tornadovac.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is Screw 02995?

#8-32 thread, 3/8 inch long. The 98220 also uses #8-32 screws at 1/2 inch (19255) and 3/4 inch (00600) on the same assembly, so the thread alone does not identify it — the length does, and the part number is what to order by.

Can I use another #8-32 screw from the same machine instead?

Not reliably. A longer screw in a 3/8 inch position can bottom out before it clamps, pass through into whatever is behind the panel, or clamp on the wrong face — and it will feel tight while doing it. A shorter one will not engage enough thread to hold.

Is Screw 02995 the same as 15475?

No. 15475 is a #8-32 x 3/8 inch Phillips flat-head machine screw. The shared thread and length do not make it interchangeable — a flat head needs a countersink and a pan head does not, so the two do not swap in the same hole. Order the number printed on your sheet.

How do I order Screw (part# 02995) or get help?

Call us at 763-535-0770 to order Screw (part# 02995) — this is a factory-order part and we will confirm current pricing and the right fastener for your position when you call. Our staff at 5415 West Broadway, Crystal, MN 55428 has been servicing Tornado equipment since 1956.

Questions? Call us at 763-535-0770 or visit us at 5415 West Broadway, Crystal, MN 55428.