Pesky Doggone #$@#@ Screws!

[COArgosy78]

We finally tracked down (thanks to another member here on the ASForums) and purchased some replacement nylon guides for our gaucho. We were ready to slide that part of the bed back into the tracks when we realized it would require removing the nylon U-stops at the end of the metal slides.

We tried everything we can think of to remove the screws holding those nylon stops, but NADA!!!! We finally had to pry the stops off around the screws to be able to get the bed functional for a trip. I'm not sure if we will be able to reuse the stops - BUT, right now I want those darn screws OUTTA THERE Does anybody have any ideas? The screws were stripped out to begin with. We went and bought something to drill them out, but those just got broken too. We tried some WD40 to loosen. What else is there???? Helppppp

[easyride]

Are they screws or bolts?can you heat them?Can you use a dremel to cut a slot in them to use a big straight screwdriver? Soak allnight with blaster? OK I ran out of suggestions.
How is your water heater coming? Dave

[moosetags]

If there is enough screw left and enough maneuvering room between the rails, try locking the tips of a set of needle nosed Vise Grip pliers on the screw and turn it out.

Brian

[TWaugh]

I have had excellent luck with the Grabit Pro screw extractor set (available at Lowe's).

I had a couple of stubborn rusted screws with stripped heads and this thing backed them right out!

http://www.asseenontvguys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=380

[COArgosy78]

Dave - Had not thought of heat, will try tomorrow (they are screw. Haven't gotten too much further on water heater, had to go back to work today - boo hoo. I did see one pictured in a Skooly (that is a rehab'd schoolbus!!) it was inside, vented thru the roof and hooked to a clawfoot bathtub - wild!!!!

Brian - no go on the needlenose, not enough room to get a good grip. These babies are CEMENTED in, I think.

We are also thinking of trying to cut them off somehow and drill out what is left? Don't know what that would do in terms of re-using the hole to reattach those nylon stops?

TWaugh - we bought a screw extractor at HD. Don't know if it was the Extractor Pro....just broke it when we used. Might check on that tho, if I am close to Lowes this week.

[Jim Foster]

Years ago, I had a customer who rebuilt boat stern drives. Expensive aluminum housings with hard to remove stainless bolts.

He taught me patience in extracting screws and bolts.

First, you MUST get the threads on the fastener loose from the threads they are screwed into. If you don't, there is no extractor made that will remove the screw.

Heat and cool, heat and cool will usually do it. Most usually, they are of different materials, and expand and contract from heat at different rates, thus separating the threads. At that point, a little penetrating oil may help.

Then a good extractor, preferably one that tightens into the fastener as you unscrew it.

Drilling a hole in the screw or bolt for the extractor using a left hand turn drill bit will heat the screw, and some times the drill bit will grab the screw and back it out. That's why some extractor sets come with left hand turn drill bits.

This information was gained through years of practice and self denial.

Shhhhhhh....Don't believe the self denial part.