Control box screws stuck

[eli_lilly]

I am replacing the control cables on a 80s-era white control box.
It looks like this one

only in much better condition. The problem I am having is that I cannot get the two large screws on the back to turn even a micron and thus can't get the control apart to replace the cables. I've done some searching and reading and the only thing I came across was one message where someone said that the screws were expoxied in and needed to be drilled out. Has this been anyone else's experience? The screws look like stainless and I am pretty sure they are a mile long so I am thinking that drilling them won't be much fun.


Thanks in advance,
-E

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Control box screws stuck

i usually use my battery screw gun, with a big phillips bit. block the control, so it does not move, the put alot of pressure on the screw gun. you have to use pressure, or it will strip the head. also a good rap with a center punch in the middle of the screw first, kinda breaks it loose. you have aluminum, and stainless, and get the metalugy effect.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Control box screws stuck

Thanks for the response, TD! During my attempts to open the box, I actually brought one of the screws with me (it's the same head size as the mounting screw) to Sears and bought the gigantor phillips that fit the head perfectly. Then I jigged the box up, clamped vise-grips on the screwdriver handle, and had a friend apply pressure to that while I pushed the screwdriver into the head. What happened was more like the start of complete head failure, as the screwdriver fit the screw perfectly. The gigantic screwdriver's four-foot-thick stem was twisting as force was applied. I stopped immediately with very little head damage because I could see where this was going in light of the amount of force we were applying. Can an impact gun be used on a screw? I've read plenty of good advise on here over the years about removing seized bolts but I don't recall too much about screws.

-E

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Control box screws stuck

yes it can, but you have to have down pressure.

 

[KLINDWW]

Re: Control box screws stuck

How about an impact driver. You might have to use some care not to break the aluminum.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Control box screws stuck

If all else fails, a gentle heat and impact driver.
If that fails, cut a slot in the screwhead with a carbide disk in a dremel and use the regular screwdriver blade(straignt wide) in the impact tool.
If that fails drill it out.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Control box screws stuck

I would not at all be amazed if some loctite has been applied to the threads.
Just put some heat on to that bolt.

 

[65Mech]

Re: Control box screws stuck

i had the same problem on my 83 controls. good ole penetrating oil and a screw bit in a 1/4" socket and ratchet. i first tried loosing it, then tightening then loosing. eventually it broke free and came out. patience is a virtue

 

[roger777]

Re: Control box screws stuck

I had the same problem with my 703 yamaha control.. I tried all of the above except the drilling and dremel..Nothing seemed to work so I ended up sliding a sawzaw blade between the back of the control and the hull.. I did a little damage to both but I had new controls and installed a little higher and covered the scuffs on the hull.. You could also try grinding the head down with a dremel (grinding tip) then slide controls out..

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Control box screws stuck

Lets be sure that we are talking about the right screws.

The two centered screws that go completely thru the box and hold it to the wall are the ones that you cannot get to turn?

No problem with drilling the head off, smack the shaft with a punch to release any corrosion between the screw shank and the box, slide the box off the screw shank. Cut the remaining shank off and drive the short remainder thru the wall, pick up the stub with the nut on it.

If you have a problem removing any of the three screws near the edge of the box then use a 3/8 drive hand/hammer impact driver with a #2 Phillips socket tip, holding positive pressure on the driver, smack it sharply and decisively with you hammer of choice.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Control box screws stuck

Penetrating oil like Kroil or PB Blaster or oil of wintergreen...and lots of patience. Then the correct bit and an impact driver.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Control box screws stuck

If you have a problem removing any of the three screws near the edge of the box then use a 3/8 drive hand/hammer impact driver with a #2 Phillips socket tip, holding positive pressure on the driver, smack it sharply and decisively with you hammer of choice.

Yes, that's the ones. The bolts holding the box to the hull were not a problem. I think I'm going to apply a little heat to the head, to take care of any loctite, and then use the hammer impact driver. I didn't even know a mechanical impact driver existed until I read this thread. I'll post back here on how it goes, probably won't get around to doing it for a couple of weeks at least.

Thanks,
-E