My wife and I sailed away from the UK in our B37 "Why Not?" in 2003 and we have spent a lot of time in Brazil and Argentina. In these latitudes the hole in the ozone layer means heavy UV and, despite covers, the seals on some of our portlights have deterioated and our now leaking in rain and sea-water. We have tried to get replacement seals from a Lewmar dealer in Buenos Aries but he said our portlights do not match any of the measurements in his Lewmar brochure! After checking with a Lewmar agent in the UK it transpires that Lewmar make special one-off portlights for Bavarias! So our replacement seals are being brought over by friends who are flying out to Rio in April. There is a three-week waiting period to get Lewmar to make these seals. One problem though! The frames that hold the seals are aluminium with stainless-steel bolts. Aluminim and stainless-steel don't like each other and I cannot free the bolts as they have "fused" together. Can anyone give me a fix routine to free these pesky bolts? Many thanks Philippe Wines
Bavaria Portlights
- Thread starter Philippe18196
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A bigger hammer!!
Try an impact driver. A Screwdriver with a reverse torque. You hit it with the hammer and it either breaks the bond, or breaks the screw. The only other fix I can envision would be to drill the screws out and replace with oversized. Larry Wilson
Try an impact driver. A Screwdriver with a reverse torque. You hit it with the hammer and it either breaks the bond, or breaks the screw. The only other fix I can envision would be to drill the screws out and replace with oversized. Larry Wilson
Corroded stainless screws in aluminum
Don't try to force the screws out. The corrosion will only seize the screw and your continued turning of the screw will break it. The stainless screws will immediately harden if you try to drill them out and you'll ruin the frame. Try the following: 1) use a micro tourch to heat the screw and frame. This may compress the corrosion so screw will turn. If this fails 2) use a mild acid such as vinager in a dropper and let sit over night. Hopfully this will soften the corrosion. 3) Get new portlights. In any cay if you get the screws out before you reinstall them coat teh threads with blue "Lock-tight" this is both an antisieze compound and prevents losening of hte screw while still allowing teh screw to be removed. Don't use the red Lock-tight, the screw will never come out.
Don't try to force the screws out. The corrosion will only seize the screw and your continued turning of the screw will break it. The stainless screws will immediately harden if you try to drill them out and you'll ruin the frame. Try the following: 1) use a micro tourch to heat the screw and frame. This may compress the corrosion so screw will turn. If this fails 2) use a mild acid such as vinager in a dropper and let sit over night. Hopfully this will soften the corrosion. 3) Get new portlights. In any cay if you get the screws out before you reinstall them coat teh threads with blue "Lock-tight" this is both an antisieze compound and prevents losening of hte screw while still allowing teh screw to be removed. Don't use the red Lock-tight, the screw will never come out.
Thanks a million John in NJ and Larry in VA! What a comfort to a sailor far from home to get a response! I´ll try John´s suggestion first! Someone said that Cocacola is good too!!! Many thanks Philippe
Diamond dust
You can use dimond dust. You can buy it in a tube and it will make the worst worn screw head a 100 percent grip. One drop and its like a new head. Scott
You can use dimond dust. You can buy it in a tube and it will make the worst worn screw head a 100 percent grip. One drop and its like a new head. Scott
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