How to unstick a 14-year old screw?

[robrecht]

Can't get a screw to budge to reupholster the front seats on my old '93 Miata. Tried Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster, & Kroil. No luck.

Should I go buy a small torch from Home Depot? Advice on how to use it properly for this function?

Any other bright ideas?

TIA! Free beer and pizza for anyone who can come by and help before I burn down the house!

[whizmo]

If you don't have one, get a heat gun. A lot easier to control the heat than a torch.

You're on the right track - penetrant, heat, tapping, etc. And patience. Time is on your side. But there are some that are just not going to budge and you have to whack/drill whatever.

- Mark

[jdeanski]

Originally posted by robrecht
Free beer and pizza for anyone who can come by and help before I burn down the house!

Heat and impact can be the best, just don't strip the head.....or catch the car on fire. If all else fails you'll have to drill out the screw and remive it with an "EZ out".

[rocky]

Originally posted by robrecht


TIA! Free beer and pizza for anyone who can come by and help before I burn down the house!

Just make sure the Miata and Pilot are safe before you do

[Tupperware]

What size is this screw? Heat can be applied precisely where you need it with a soldering iron , if the screw is not too large.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by Tupperware
What size is this screw? Heat can be applied precisely where you need it with a soldering iron , if the screw is not too large.

Here's a picture of the damn screw (and my 14-year-old cloth upholstery that I'm upgrading to leather).

[Tupperware]

That screw looks pretty accessable. I'd hit it with the hottest soldering iron you can get your hands on then use this tool:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

[jdeanski]

It's hard to tell from the picture but are you using a #2 phillips with a grip you can really get some leverage with? Be careful with an impact driver. How firm is whatever the screw goes into? It needs to be pretty firm if you use an impact driver.

[rocky]

I'd start by taking a hammer to the end of the screwdriver and seeing if the impacts loosen anything.

I'd also get the sears "screwed up screw remover" as well as this project is going in that direction....

[colorider]

As always - make sure you have the right size Phillips (#2 typically). Maintain steady constant torque on the handle and tap the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer. Sometimes even changing direction (as in tightening) and then trying to loosen will help. I've had screws seize like this on motorcycles, particularly when threading into an alloy part (the use anti-seize paste on the threads at assembly helps reduce this risk).

You might also try gripping the screwdriver with all you have and with steady pressure towards the screw give the handle a VERY solid twist.

As for the pizza and beer offer. if I wasn't snowed in, I would be there in a flash!!


Good Luck!!!

[thomasj2]

Try an impact driver, with a light tap. If that doesn't work, drill it out

[colorider]

Well robrecht, did you ever get the "damn screw" out????

[robrecht]

Originally posted by colorider
Well robrecht, did you ever get the "damn screw" out????

Nope, not yet. Was traveling, didn't have the impact driver at Home Depot so I've ordered it off the Internet.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by Tupperware
That screw looks pretty accessable. I'd hit it with the hottest soldering iron you can get your hands on then use this tool:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Thanks, Tupperware. Impact driver worked like a charm and I didn't even need to burn the house down!

[robrecht]

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