Suggestions For Loosening Frozen Machine Screws?

Free Republic ^ | 12 March 2017 | Windy

[Windflier]

Ballistol attracts women, too. They come in the room and say “what the hell is that smell?”

As if the missus wasn't already in my hair on this project! LOL

[21twelve]

Good luck in your endevours - and you better post the results! In post 63 it had “somebody’s” results that the ATF/Acetone mix was best. Liquid Wrench was about tied for second with Kroils. If it was me, I’d probably try the liquid wrench (plus I have it on the shelf!)

Tapping/hitting, sokaing, etc. all sound good. I’m no mechanic - but I wonder if a hairdryer on high would be hot enough to loosen things just a little bit, even if to allow the oil to get in farther? And I can’t imagine that would be hot enough to damage the neoprene.

Anyway - good luck! Nothing better than figuring something out and fixing it yourself!

[Nifster]

They may have Loctite on them. I believe Loctite makes a solvent

[az_gila]

One of the aircraft mechanics solutions is to use Mouse Milk - it works on stuck turbo parts.

https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Milk-8-oz-Penetrating/dp/B0049C7170

[doorgunner69]

WD-40 is hardly worth using on garden tools. Horrible penetrant. JB or Liquid wrench are far better. Kroil is what the machinists used to use, but unavailable to me.

Tighten slightly and then let it sit with oil. Try again. heat never worked well for me, probably never did it right.

All you really have to do is budge the threads loose a touch, hence the tighten first. Waiting lets the oil get into the loosened threads.

[Windflier]

Try using a manual impact driver. If you haven’t seen one, it’s a reversible tool that you hit with a hammer. The force of the blow drives the bit into the screw and at the same time it turns the bit to remove the frozen screw. You can pick one up at Autozone for about $12.00.

Thank you. I'll have to get a look at one to see if I can use it in the confined space I'm working in. I do have the option of removing the entire roller assembly from the machine, but I only want to do that as a last resort, as it's a bear to precisely align when re-installing.

Thanks for the tip!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Once you do get them apart, reassemble with anti-seize compound. This kind of sticking is what anti-seize is meant to prevent.

If you can warm the aluminum, do it. You don’t have to get it red hot. If it’s easier, you might be able to heat the whole shebang in an oven then apply dry ice to the fasteners to shrink them.

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?14083-Stainless-Bolt-Seized-in-Aluminum

[CurlyDave]

The very best penetrating oil is a 50-50 mixture of acetone and Automatic Transmission Fluid.

Try that first. It beats WD-40 by a mile.

If that fails, the next thing to try is heat. Heat the machine screws almost to red heat. Then touch a candle to the head and let the wax melt. The molten wax will be drawn into the threads by capillary action and will lubricate them.

You do not need the tat-tat-tat of an impact wrench to break loose a stuck bolt. You need one very stout impact. After the wax trick, put a cheater on your Allen wrench, and take all the slack and spring out of the system with one hand. Hold it in that position and hit it HARD with a heavy hammer. This can work miracles.

If push comes to shove and you have to drill it out, go to a very good tool store and get a left hand drill of the correct size. Frequently just drilling it out with a left hand bit will loosen the bolt. Of course you have to run the drill in reverse with the left hand bit.

[tinyowl]

"Cut the nuts close to the threads and then snap them off."

Less painful to just shave first, then you don't have to worry about catching the knife. You can avoid having to snap them off if you cut all the way through on the first pass. But you're not going to find very many liberals who haven't already had this done.

[rdcbn]

Kano Labs Kroil is one of the best penetrating lubes on the market

LPS is pretty good too

[Windflier]

Try the Kroil or liquid wrench or PB Blaster and gentle patience. It is likely the threads in the aluminum will come out with the screws though and you’ll have to drill and tap new threads or use a helicoil to keep the same thread size.

Thanks for the very informative reply. That's very helpful

I've already removed some zinc alloy bolts from the aluminum block, and they came out ok. I'm just crossing my fingers that some high quality penetrating oil and patience will do the trick for the steel machine screws, too.

[Windflier]

Another vote for Kroil. I find that if Kroil won’t get something unstuck, the blue “wrench” is the only remaining option.

I'll definitely look for the Kroil at the auto parts store. What is the "blue wrench"?

When you say, "give the fastener a gentle tap", do you mean just tap it on the head with a hammer, or do you mean, give the wrench a gentle tap while it's inserted into the screw head?

Thanks for your help.

[rdcbn]

Kroil is popular in aircraft work so airport shops usually have a supply.

[Windflier]

Gene, the screws are this type, and are countersunk into the body of the aluminum block:

[chuckles]

I’ve had good luck with whiskey. Uh, on the stuck screws! I have taken many screws and bolts loose with whiskey soaking for a few minutes. I’ve used it many times on squirrel cages for HVAC fans over 20 years old. It will lossen the lock screw and then loosen the fan from the shaft.

[Fai Mao]

Ammonia.

Many times they are stuck due to galvanic corrosion.

Ammonia will break the chemical bonds and all the screws to be loosened - at least sometimes it will

[Windflier]

The hex on my Delta faucet handle died; a "star" wrench from harbor freight turned it right out. FYI

Thanks, bud. The Allen drives in the screws aren't yet stripped. Dang things just don't want to turn.

[Ignatz]

Bkmk

[Windflier]

I have to get it online or from Amazon

Thanks. My wife is the queen of Amazon shoppers. I'll get her on it.

[Windflier]

I’ve got a full set of torx bits. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind if penetrating oil doesn’t work.

Thanks!