Ferrari Mailing List: Screw removal trick

[Charles Perry (charles]

Thought I'd share a screw removal trick that I learned while trying to
fix the seat track sensors on my 355 spider. The trick is courtesy of
mechanic Jeff Carriker of Carriker's Automotive in NC who rebuilt my
sensors. It worked so well in removing my seat tracks that I have used
it for many other tough screw removals and it is a bit miraculous. I'm
sure you old wrenches already know it, but for some of the budding
DIYers it might be as helpful as I have found it.
 
In removing many screws, the screws are either so tight, or old, or
subjected to heat or corrosion that you can't remove them without
stripping them.
 
The hint Jeff gave me with the 355 seat track bolts (which are allen
heads but this works especially well for phillips heads) was to get a
little tube of valve grinding compound (sometimes called valve lapping
compound) which is available at any auto parts store for just a couple
of dollars. This is essentially an extremely gritty water-based solution
that is used for polishing valves so that they sit tightly to their
seats. However, if you put a little bit on the tip of your screwdriver
or wrench, it gives the surfaces much stronger friction. That way
instead of twisting out and reaming the head of the screw, the
screwdriver or wrench gets traction and can actually transfer the
torque.
 
Tonight I was trying to take a glass shower door off its track. The
screws had been there since 1991 and in a wet environment and the
screwdriver had no hope of removing them alone. A little dip in the
valve grinding compound and I had all four screws off in seconds, and in
a condition that they could be reused since their phillips heads had not
been rounded in the removal process. It really is a terrific time and
effort saver.
 
Maybe some of you guys who have been doing your own work for a long time
can share other such tricks with the rest of the group...
 
-- charles
 
 
 
_______________________________________________
  
 
Charles G Perry IV
Vice-President, Engineering
 
Carolina Sound Communications - MuzaK
7630 Southrail Road, BLDG B
N. Charleston, SC 29420 
(843) 571-4488         www.carolina-sound.com
<http://www.carolina-sound.com/> 
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