[Fangio]

The head on one of the screws underneath my MG Lola is broken (the screwdriver just goes around and around!).

Is there an easy solution to this problem?

I really need to change the braid!

Morten

 

[LMP]

The guids and braids should pull out without taking the body off..........

If I have mis-understood you can always try different screwdrivers - worked for me.

 

[fast lucky]

You should be able to change your braids without touching any screw.

How to remove the damaged screw ? Provided you've got the necessary tool, you should bore a hole into it, but a very small one in order to avoid any damage to the mounting post.

 

[Jamie]

I know how it feels; I damaged the head of the screw on a SCX Citroen Xsara. After a few abortive attempts completely wrecking the screw, I was just about to resort to brute force, but managed to remove the screw using a pair of small needle nose pliers; fortunately the screw wasn't hidden away in a recess.

If the screw is buried away in chassis, I am not really sure how to remove it without causing damage.

Jamie

 

[gascarnut]

Try looking at the screwdriver you are using. Sometimes the Phillips screwdrivers have a very sharp point that bottoms in the cross of the screw and does not allow the undamaged part of the screw head to be gripped by the screwdriver. File off about 1 mm of the end of the screwdriver and then try again - see if the driver then grips the screw a bit better.

If you do get it out this way, it's usually best to replace the screw anyhow, but it would be the last time you strip out a screw head.

I hope this helps.

 

[monquispot]

if gascarnut idea doesn't work, try using flat tip screwdrivers. oft times these will catch the corners and get the screw out.

 

[Isetta]

'scuse the real basics here...but this may be useful to folks new to mechanicals...

1. ONLY use good quality tools. Cheap screwdrivers will be a bad fit in the slot and will ruin screws in no time.
2. Beware "Phillips" and "crosspoint" confusion. Phillips have a different blade point angle, and are identified by a small cross engraved between the driving slots (Union Jack style, if you see what I mean).
3. If you round out the slots of a crosspoint screw, first try honing a flat blade screwdriver, about 2/3 the width of the slot, into a chizel edge. This may bite into the screw and allow you to extract it.
4. If this fails, (carefully) drill off the screw head with a drill bit the same diameter as the screw shank. Then when you have separated the parts you can extract the screw shank using mini "mole grips".
5. NEVER put back a srew with a partly damaged slot - or next time you may have to resort to item 4.

.

Cheers, Isetta

 

[Scaleracing]

Hi All,

Actually I believe the cross head screw with the four extra flutes is called a posidrive drive screw.

One tip I have tried for stubborn screws with or without damaged heads is heat up a screw driver ( not glowing hot) and allow the heat to transfer through to the plastic through the stuck screw. After a short while you should be able to undo the screw as the plastic will have softened slightly. Be careful and please do not blame me if you burn your fingers or melt your favorite car ( you should not need to get the screw driver anyware near that hot). One other point is that most good screw drivers are too pointed of a tip for the screws Scalextric and the other Manufacturers are using. In the USA a set of Jewelers screwdrivers from Radio Shack will undo the screws with a tight fit in the screw head preventing the damage. Check on the screwdriver fit before you start undoing the screws, particularly if they are tight. The worse thing you can do on a Philips or Cross head screw is use a loose fitting screw driver.

I hope this helps some.

Cheers

Alan

Found some info on Google, there are three types of cross head screw see here for more info.

Looks like I spelt Posidrive wrong, oh well. Screw it, or was that unscrew it.

http://www.tvrna.com/tech-m04.html

 

[McLaren]

Wow... learn something new everyday....

If ever I'm stuck in a similar situation, I find an old screwdriver which also fits the screw and dip the end into superglue. Then push it firmly into the screw and wait for the superglue to dry (60 secs). Then carefully unscrew. It always works for me. Then you can throw the screw away, and chip the superglue off of the screwdriver.

Simple.

McLaren

PS. Next time you might want to name the post after the problem you have, not on which car it is. It may attract more people who know how to help.

 

[compound_goose]

use a small screwdriver to prise the guide off. thenn drill the screw head off and pull the stump out with pliers (unscrew) did this on merc clk i needed to get the motor out

 

[Isetta]

QUOTE Actually I believe the cross head screw with the four extra flutes is called a posidrive drive screw.

Oooops, Alan you are right, thanks for the correction....

but the message is still the same, make sure the screwdriver is the right fit for the screw slot.

Cheers, Isetta