Ken :
My first thought would be a "impact screwdriver", the kind where you
beat on the end with a BFH. The hammer blow seems to not only force the
screwdriver into the slot (so it's less likely to strip), but somehow
loosen the screw (during the blow) so it is easier to turn. I've used
mine on several corroded steel screws into aluminum on my various
motorcycles, and it's always worked.
If you aren't familiar with these, go to http://www.mcmaster.com/ and
search for part number 5610A2 (they call it a 3/8" drive manual impact
driver). I'm sure you can find a better price than MMC, but they sure
do have a nice on-line catalog !
Another thought might be to heat the entire wheel in the kitchen oven,
but I'm not sure if the oven will get hot enough to help (and handling
that hot wheel may be tricky <g>)
Randall
Ken Gano wrote:
>
> I have steel screws, (small, about #8 or 10) severely corroded into a set of
> aluminum wheels. They are frozen solid and I am starting to strip the screw
> driver slot. I have poured PB Blaster over them to no avail. The
> application is such that heat is not a good option. (it's the center cap
> and a piece of thin gauge sheet metal would shield the piece I would need to
> heat. Heating the screw would be going the wrong way.)
>
> Any good suggestions, short of cutting off the heads and re-drilling and
> re-tapping?
>
> TIA
>
> Ken Gano
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