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Post by Jazzler on Jan 18, 2009 15:54:28 GMT
Hi Guys, I have just gone to remove some screws from the undercarriage of my car, only to find that they have been done up so tight that the head (Hex) of the screw is not in a good enough condition to provide enough tension without slipping!!! Any ideas on how I can get them out? It seems that most of them are like this!!  I don't really want to drill them out, so if anyone has any other advice please help... |
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Post by lesbaldry on Jan 18, 2009 16:04:17 GMT
Jason, one way is to use a mini disc cutter in a Dremel..ie cut a slot in the head of the screw to allow you to use a screw driver to loosen them!!...sometimes heating up the alloy part with a heavy duty soldering iorn can help.
The chances are that the threads have got damp and started to corrode in the alloy parts making them hard to remove...allways put a small amount of grease on any thread that has to go into alloy......good luck
It pays to buy good quality (hardened) hex drivers too
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Post by Jazzler on Jan 18, 2009 16:19:52 GMT
Jason, one way is to use a mini disc cutter in a Dremel..ie cut a slot in the head of the screw to allow you to use a screw driver to loosen them!!...sometimes heating up the alloy part with a heavy duty soldering iorn can help. The chances are that the threads have got damp and started to corrode in the alloy parts making them hard to remove...allways put a small amount of grease on any thread that has to go into alloy......good luck It pays to buy good quality (hardened) hex drivers too Ah.. good idea. Thanks Les. I was going to replace the rear belt as its pretty worn and I have a spare, but guess I'll have to out that off until I can sort out these screws, I'll put some grease on the ones I can get to now, but I'll have to get myself a Dremel and make them into screws. |
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Post by keitheroonie on Jan 18, 2009 16:37:50 GMT
Hi Jason, I have had this happen on more than one occasion, I always over tighten screws when I put them in, it comes from years of making sure electrical connections are done up tightly.
Anyway, the best way I've found to remove them is to either take out all the other screws that hold that particular part, then turn the part on the last screw rather than turning the screw.
Failing that, use a 5mm drill bit and drill straight into the hex hole, the screw are really soft so you wont need to apply much pressure, the screw top will fall off before you drill into the carbon fibre so don't worry, once the screw heads off you should be able to unscrew the threaded part of the screw thats left in the hole with your fingers or a pair of pliers.
HTH
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Post by Jazzler on Jan 18, 2009 17:40:26 GMT
Hi Jason, I have had this happen on more than one occasion, I always over tighten screws when I put them in, it comes from years of making sure electrical connections are done up tightly. Anyway, the best way I've found to remove them is to either take out all the other screws that hold that particular part, then turn the part on the last screw rather than turning the screw. Failing that, use a 5mm drill bit and drill straight into the hex hole, the screw are really soft so you wont need to apply much pressure, the screw top will fall off before you drill into the carbon fibre so don't worry, once the screw heads off you should be able to unscrew the threaded part of the screw thats left in the hole, with your fingers or a pair of pliers. HTH Also a good call Keith, thanks. The reason I didn't want to drill is because I didn't want to damage the carbon fibre, but if you say you have had to do it yourself without damage then I might give it a go too. I'll wait to get a set of new screws first though.  |
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Post by keitheroonie on Jan 18, 2009 18:12:54 GMT
yea, you'll want to put a new one back in ;D ;D
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Post by yellowshark on Jan 18, 2009 21:50:03 GMT
I used the technique Les suggested and it worked for me  |
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Post by Jazzler on Jan 25, 2009 18:34:12 GMT
Ok, For anyone that's interested.. I finally gathered enough courage to take a drill to my car.. The operation was a success!! ;D ;D ;D There were a few minor complications, however overall I am very pleased with the results. The screws were actually quite hard?? and I had a little trouble getting through it, (Drawback of using a cheap drill bit I guess  ) All well in the end though. |
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Post by Reuben on Jan 25, 2009 18:37:18 GMT
Glad to see it worked!
Yeh some of those screws can be tough, I had to drill out my rear screws a while back..
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Post by Simon Crabb on Jan 25, 2009 19:17:27 GMT
Titanium I guess, they are meant to be hard! But even then they can still strip out the hex.
Torx screws would be a much better solution, but I can only recall one manufacturer (Corally I think?) that use them.
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Post by keitheroonie on Jan 25, 2009 21:54:41 GMT
Ok, For anyone that's interested.. I finally gathered enough courage to take a drill to my car.. The operation was a success!! ;D ;D ;D There were a few minor complications, however overall I am very pleased with the results. The screws were actually quite hard?? and I had a little trouble getting through it, (Drawback of using a cheap drill bit I guess ) All well in the end though. Good show, I've just stripped 2 cyclones and had to drill out 4 of the bloody things  plus a bearing had nicely crimped itself to the steering post which resulted in another breakage (bearing and post). |
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Post by Jazzler on Jan 26, 2009 9:05:13 GMT
Good show, I've just stripped 2 cyclones and had to drill out 4 of the bloody things plus a bearing had nicely crimped itself to the steering post which resulted in another breakage (bearing and post). Oh no... Since there is such a long time now before the next race meeting, I think I'll take this as an opportunity to strip my cyclone, and grease all the screws that go onto ally (As recommended by Les), plus I will then be able to see where I need to do repairs. Since I brought the car, I noticed that the car had a few small problems. But after sorting out each one it made SUCH A DIFFERENCE!!!. Most noticeably - Being able to drive in a straight line (Steering linkage issues); - Tyres Gripping the track (Introduction to Jack the Gripper); - Servo saver working, (After repair and replacing damaged servo and armature); - Worn belt ( Stretched and sometimes slipping) - Radio Gear (Interference then not working at all so upgraded to 2.4Ghz). |
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Post by lesbaldry on Jan 26, 2009 10:37:00 GMT
Nice one Jason,sounds like you are sorted  Siezed screws can be a real pain in the backside  ...it always pays to grease threads especially into alloy parts that are rarely removed...dampness,alloy and steel dont mix well |
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Post by Jazzler on Jan 26, 2009 14:19:40 GMT
Nice one Jason,sounds like you are sorted Siezed screws can be a real pain in the backside ...it always pays to grease threads especially into alloy parts that are rarely removed...dampness,alloy and steel dont mix well Yeah, I think I'm good to go now. The only problem is now I cant blame my slow lap times on the car any more |
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Post by Simon Crabb on Jan 26, 2009 15:03:25 GMT
Oh don't worry Jason, you can blame slow lap times on the car for years to come, most people do...
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Post by yellowshark on Jan 26, 2009 19:34:51 GMT
Ok, For anyone that's interested.. I finally gathered enough courage to take a drill to my car.. The operation was a success!! ;D ;D ;D There were a few minor complications, however overall I am very pleased with the results. The screws were actually quite hard?? and I had a little trouble getting through it, (Drawback of using a cheap drill bit I guess ) All well in the end though. Good show, I've just stripped 2 cyclones and had to drill out 4 of the bloody things plus a bearing had nicely crimped itself to the steering post which resulted in another breakage (bearing and post). Do you need a special tool? I suppose it could happen to an Xray one day. Then again probably not |
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Post by lesbaldry on Jan 26, 2009 20:25:34 GMT
Good show, I've just stripped 2 cyclones and had to drill out 4 of the bloody things plus a bearing had nicely crimped itself to the steering post which resulted in another breakage (bearing and post). Do you need a special tool? I suppose it could happen to an Xray one day. Then again probably not Cyclones are so quick Pete the speed resonance can loosen the mounting screws especially when fitted with BL engines..sorry motors,thats why we have to do them up so tight..somthing that never hapens with the Xray for obvious reasons plus the poor quality alloy strips easy  |
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Post by yellowshark on Jan 26, 2009 20:27:19 GMT
Do you need a special tool? I suppose it could happen to an Xray one day. Then again probably not Cyclones are so quick Pete the speed resonance can loosen the mounting screws especially when fitted with BL engines..sorry motors,thats why we have to do them up so tight..somthing that never hapens with the Xray for obvious reasons plus the poor quality alloy strips easy Thank God for that Les; was worried you had had an unsavoury New Years resolution |
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Post by lesbaldry on Jan 26, 2009 20:31:34 GMT
Cyclones are so quick Pete the speed resonance can loosen the mounting screws especially when fitted with BL engines..sorry motors,thats why we have to do them up so tight..somthing that never hapens with the Xray for obvious reasons plus the poor quality alloy strips easy Thank God for that Les; was worried you had had an unsavoury New Years resolution Hi Pete nice to hear from you .....I saw a 009 in the flesh for the first time this week end...the colour grew on me..not as bad as I thought! |
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Post by yellowshark on Jan 27, 2009 0:33:47 GMT
Thank God for that Les; was worried you had had an unsavoury New Years resolution Hi Pete nice to hear from you .....I saw a 009 in the flesh for the first time this week end...the colour grew on me..not as bad as I thought! Well you are one up on me Les, although I guess we will have to get one we go brushles, don't ask! Jeez 2 ESCs, new car, God knows how many engines, then there's Ross to think about, not cheap this brushless conversion stuff is it. Credit crunch? more like Jen crunch I think (hope she doesn't visit the forum when I'm in the office  ) |
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) All well in the end though.
...it always pays to grease threads especially into alloy parts that are rarely removed...dampness,alloy and steel dont mix well 
)