Rusted Screws

[buddy]

Does anyone know a better way to unjam rusted screws? I have rusted screws on many drain valves in Wascomats and I haven't figured out a way to easily loosen them. It's pain in the neck. I have tried spraying WD40 but it never helps and if I try too hard it strips the screws.

Thanks,
Buddy

[David]

For twenty years, that was a part of my daily job, removing damaged or stuck screws from all types of aircraft.

Nothing gets out screw like a Johnson bar, but that won't work in confined spaces like the drain valve area. That's really another story in itself.

So, here are my other tips. At Sears they sell a collection of screwdriver tips. These are the small 5/16 bits. Some come with serrations on the bit. Those are very good at getting out stuck screws. The serrations give it extra bite. In the kit, there are some that are oversize, for an already stripped screw. There is a low profile bit that seems to get deeper into a screw. These seem to work well on metric screws.

But it all boils downs to pressure and leverage. You have to keep pressure on the screwdriver, while leveraging the screwdrive to back out the screw.

Try to use a combination if tools. I like to use a socket driver and bit with a 1/4" drive in the handle to attach a ratchet. I also like to use a cordless drill with a bit and holder. I can keep pressure on while the drill handles the leverage. If you have quality tools like Craftsman or Snap-on, use a wrench at the base of the handle to aid in leverage.

I've seen on TV recently, Sears and Bob Villa advertizing a screw removal tool. Looks promising. I may invest.

Tighten a screw a little before removing it. Sometimes that helps.

For a screw that is easily accessable, you can always take a hacksaw, and cut a slot in the top, then use a common screwdriver to remove it.

I seldom use a lubricant to remove a screw. It usually gets in the head of the screw and you have to use even more pressure to get it out.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Once a screwdriver and or bit is worn. THROW IT AWAY! or REPLACE IT. A worn tip does nothing but drive up blood pressure! Take it to a grinding wheel and make an awl out of it.

[Anonymous]

I have a device I bought at Sears a few years ago that works well, don't know what it is called but it was about $20. Its a black tube about 1" in diameter and about 8" long - at one end you insert the bit and you hit the other end with a hammer. It translates the downward blow into rotation to remove the screw.

[pete f]

DAve, It is good to know the screws on planes are rusted together enough so they won't come apart! Thanks for the tips.

Kirby; I think you have a an impact hammer/driver. I had a Honda motercyle as a kid and had to have one of those to get any screw loose.

Still have it, but luckly do not have to use if often..

[Andy]

If you don't have an impact driver you can give your screwdriver a good rap with a hammer which tends to break the screws loose, you'll just have to do the turning on your own.

[David]

Pete... They are not rusted, as most screws are stainless, just so many of them. It's common to find 600-800 screws securing a single part. Those parts typically are exposed to the slipstream and engineers want to make sure it doesn't 'fall off'!

I'm glad laundry equipment are much simpler.

I know, maybe the two industry engineers can get together and have a flying wachine machine! No wait, they already done that :D

[pete f]

come back on that flying washing machine...?
also, glad to know so many screws hold the plane togethher....

[Ken]

I use Vise-grip to take the screws out,replace with stainless steel screws,you will never deal with rusty screw any more.

[Bob C]

PB blaster is an excellenet penetrant and an impact driver always seems to do the trick for me.