Mystery Security Screw for Autotiller

RichH · Mar 29, 2012

A common 6 point "torx-head" drive should fit. You can buy the torx 'bits' in most hardware stores. Youll want the standard 'solid' torx bits, not the ones with 'anti-theft pilot holes' bored into the center of the bit face. Youll need a standard 'hex' driver for the bits.

Home Despot or Lowes, etc.

RobertLangdirect · Mar 29, 2012

RichH said:
A common 6 point "torx-head" drive should fit. . . . .not the ones with 'anti-theft pilot holes' bored into the center of the bit face. , , ,
Home Despot or Lowes, etc.

Rich -- I think the screw head is raised in the middle. You might want the hole, perhaps even drill it larger, so that the six lugs will go over the raised portion and engage the lugs.

RichH · Mar 29, 2012

You may be correct ... many manufacturers, especially 'british' use a proprietary form of fastener head so that you can only have it repaired, etc. them.

If the center is raised, and you have a dremel with grinding 'burr' you can 'dress' the center part of a torx head ... and the 'center hole' anti theft type will be easier to 'grind'.

I post this as Ive just come from my workshop where I had to grind away of 3 of the 6 flutes on a torx bit to be able to fit the proprietary 'retainer screws' of a pressure valve on an 'asian' automotive AC compressor. God Almighty, do I HATE metric & asian 'clattertrap'.

Merlin Clark · Mar 29, 2012

zipzit said:
Has anyone run across an "Made in England" Combi Autohelm? It has six of these odd screws. Plastic case, vintage early 80's.

Brass screw, weird head on the screw. I'm thinking of simply drilling, then using easy out to remove. I'm just hoping the thread pitch underneath is nothing weird... (Ask me about english screw thread pitch and my Record hand planes for working on wood...ugh!)

Anybody been here before? I can't seem to find a socket that matches this head shape, and four of the screws are inset deeply into the housing so you can't use pliers, etc...

Something inside is loose and rattling around. I'd like to inspect and verify all is good with the internals..

Many thanks,
zip
Metro Detroit, USA

Might take an old straight tip screw driver of the right width and grind an arc into the tip.

Ron20324 · Mar 29, 2012

looks like one of the non-removeable screws. Perhapd a Dremel can cut a screwdriver slot in it?

Joe · Mar 29, 2012

Auto helm was purchased by Raymarine a number of years ago. I have an Autohelm 1000 tiller pilot.... still works well, btw.... I am inclined to suggest you check the owner's manual.... because the reason it's not a standard fastener is because you're not supposed to remove it. Why don't you call Raymarine recreation marine division customer service for some possible answers. It appears to require a special six or twelve point SOCKET

rpwillia · Mar 29, 2012

Security Bit

RobertLangdirect said:
Rich -- I think the screw head is raised in the middle. You might want the hole, perhaps even drill it larger, so that the six lugs will go over the raised portion and engage the lugs.

Perhaps it is a security bit. Get one of these - http://www.harborfreight.com/100-piece-security-bit-set-91310.html

Richard Bryer · Mar 30, 2012

Hmm- do you have a picture of the whole unit? I have an old Combi- Autohelm 3000 analogue unit that I have taken apart several times ( with the help of one of the forum members here- I will see if I still have the name some where. ) I don't remember any screws like this tho. As I remember the compass unit inside "rattles" a bit- I would advise not shaking it around too much. If your Combi unit is the same as mine, I have instructions on how to dis- assemble it.

Mystery Security Screw for Autotiller

.

Attachments

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.