Fred McKenzie wrote:
pdrahn wrote:

Retapping won't help, unless you have an oversized tap.

Paul-

I understand there is also a "thread chaser" tap, which might be
slightly oversized. I was thinking about the distorted threads being
cleaned up by re-tapping. Perhaps one of the local hardware stores will
have a 3/8-24 tap, as well as some anti-seize compound.

I contacted New-tronics by E-Mail. They also suggested heating the
female threaded part with a torch. They apparently have encountered the
problem before, but their instruction sheets never mentioned it or the
need for an anti-seize compound.

Also, New-tronics does not sell parts, only complete assemblies!

Fred
K4DII

There are two basic types of taps: thread-cutting taps and thread-forming
taps (also called "roll taps"). They work just as described... the former
removes material to make threads, while the latter pushes material to make
threads. Roll taps are used to make threads in soft materials (mainly
aluminum, copper, and the like) but can also be used to chase threads that
have already been cut/formed. Your local machine tool supplier or
McMaster-Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/) or MSC Industrial Supply
(http://www.mscdirect.com/) should have them.
Bryan WA7PRC