I am having trouble unscrewing the mast internal line exit blocks and deck organizers on my 1987 Catalina 22. The screws are locked tight (from age?) and will not move. I have tried everything short of drilling them out...a seemingly long and tedious process. Any suggestions on how to remove them?
Seized screws
- Thread starter jstrohmeyer
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Penetrating oil and heat
The exit block screws are probably corroded to the aluminium mast. Heat (propane torch or large soldering iron) and an impact driver should get them loose. Are the screws for the deck organizer through bolted in the cabin top? You may be able to remove the nuts and backing plate and knock the whole fitting off from below. Then you can deal with the screws on the bench. If the screws are not through bolted, try soaking them with penetrating oil for a day or two then try an impact driver to free them up. Feel free to curse the person that didn't coat the threads when the parts were assembled.
The exit block screws are probably corroded to the aluminium mast. Heat (propane torch or large soldering iron) and an impact driver should get them loose. Are the screws for the deck organizer through bolted in the cabin top? You may be able to remove the nuts and backing plate and knock the whole fitting off from below. Then you can deal with the screws on the bench. If the screws are not through bolted, try soaking them with penetrating oil for a day or two then try an impact driver to free them up. Feel free to curse the person that didn't coat the threads when the parts were assembled.
Impact Hammer / Heat / WD40
Impact Hammer / Heat / WD40 - That should do the trick! Impact Hammers are available at Sears for about $20 - good investment when it comes to sailboats! Rob
Impact Hammer / Heat / WD40 - That should do the trick! Impact Hammers are available at Sears for about $20 - good investment when it comes to sailboats! Rob
PB Blaster is the best penetrating solvent
WD40 isn't made for that, and PB is way better than liquid wrench.
WD40 isn't made for that, and PB is way better than liquid wrench.
Thank you, everyone
Great suggestions! I guess buying and using an inpact hammer ( with torch) may be the best bet.
Great suggestions! I guess buying and using an inpact hammer ( with torch) may be the best bet.
Grabit screw extractor
Available at Ace hardware. I've used all methods listed below on cars, boats, motorcycles and other impossibly stuck screws. I recentaly found these while looking for screw extractors (quite possibaly the worst way to get a screw out). They are a 2 ended bit. One end drills a cone shape into the stripped out head, and the other end is a reverse threaded cone that grabs into the cone that you just cut. The best new tool that I have found in a long time. It took out corroded screws that I had been working on for two weeks with PB Blaster, heat, pounding, impact driver (just stripped the head completely, and I do know how to use a impact driver, I used to ride motorcycles), and copious naughty words. I see that I am getting a little long winded, but I was really impressed with this tool.
Available at Ace hardware. I've used all methods listed below on cars, boats, motorcycles and other impossibly stuck screws. I recentaly found these while looking for screw extractors (quite possibaly the worst way to get a screw out). They are a 2 ended bit. One end drills a cone shape into the stripped out head, and the other end is a reverse threaded cone that grabs into the cone that you just cut. The best new tool that I have found in a long time. It took out corroded screws that I had been working on for two weeks with PB Blaster, heat, pounding, impact driver (just stripped the head completely, and I do know how to use a impact driver, I used to ride motorcycles), and copious naughty words. I see that I am getting a little long winded, but I was really impressed with this tool.
To Pops
Thanks Pops...sombody was trying to explain this tool to me, but I never was ablr to determine what he was talking about. But your description is good. I'll go to Ace today and see if they have one!
Thanks Pops...sombody was trying to explain this tool to me, but I never was ablr to determine what he was talking about. But your description is good. I'll go to Ace today and see if they have one!
PB Blaster
Watch out for the side effects ; this stuff seems to have Acetone in it the way it disolves other materials and some paint. Don't use it near open flames!
Watch out for the side effects ; this stuff seems to have Acetone in it the way it disolves other materials and some paint. Don't use it near open flames!
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