Removing cross-threaded screw

[DCWilson]

Earlier this year I acquired a prewar I-frame with a frozen fourth screw (cylinder stop screw in front of the trigger guard). The screw rides higher in its pocket than one usually sees, and I think it was probably cross-threaded by the last person to have it out.

I've lubed it, worked it judiciously with proper screwdriver tips, and accomplished nothing except bending screwdrivers and enlarging the slot in the screw. Am I going to have to drill this out and replace it, or are there tricks I am not trying?

I don't think rust is an issue. The gun is very clean.

 

[2152hq]

Someone may have installed it with 'poor mans Lok-Tite'... aka Super Glue.
It makes a great thread locker but if you don't get the screw in all the way FAST, the glue sets up and freezes the screw in position,,that usually being a turn or two from full depth.
If the threads were clean, the stuff will resist just about anything short of twisting the slot out of the screw in removing it.

Try a little heat from an electric soldering gun tip onto the screw head to soften it.
It may even be the 'real' stuff holding it in place..

 

[Hondo44]

The judiscious heat method is a good one but I understand the fear of damaging the finish. The soldering iron should be safe and can be applied to the area under the sideplate for safety to the finish. Remember you want the hole to expand more than the screw. You've probably soaked already, but 50/50 acetone and transmission fluid is a tested and proven best penetrant if you haven't used that yet.

Carefully striking the screw head with a steel screw driver shaft (w/o a plastic handle to soften the shock factor) may help too. Patience is obviously your best friend in these cases.

Drilling is the last resort of course but that may be the ultimate method. Use a very small (1/2 diameter of screw thread) NEW cobalt drill bit first. Use the very highest speed! Try to drill thru the slotted screw head so you can still use a screwdriver after drilling the first hole. The first hole can relieve tension enough sometimes and allow the screw to be turned out. Use successively larger drill bits. Use a friend to 'eyeball' the drilling from the side to confirm straightness of the drill bit to the work.

Never turn hard enough to bugger the slot because that's enough pressure to snap the head off. These are a real pain but nothing will give you more satisfaction than successfully accomplishing the task. If you have to clean up the threads it's a 5-40 thread IIRC; I'm not home now to double check. Best of luck. Think positive and go slow.

 

[DCWilson]

Thanks, guys. I'll work on this further tomorrow if I can find a decent block of time.

 

[scooter123]

One additional tip I learned when restoring my motorcycle. That is do NOT try to remove the screw in one shot. If you get it moving at all, turn it in and out repeatedly and add about 1/4 turn in the unscrew direction for every 4 or 5 in and out cycles. On my motorcycle I had a lot of screws that were corroded in place and doing this ground the corrosion products into dust. Some screws took a full 2 hours to remove doing this but I didn't have to drill out one single screw.

 

[chief38]

I also have a M/C and I too have done the trick that Scooter123 has mentioned here. In fact, I am known in town as the "official screw remover and bolt extractor" for Harley's. A lot of the bolts that they use on Harley's are chromed after being threaded, so they are tight as hell. I have spent more than a couple of evenings in the garage drilling out bolts from friends Bikes!

I truly can not remember ever having to remove a cross threaded screw from a Smith. Tight ones yes, but never crossed. Oh, and by the way I NEVER EVER use locktite on guns. I know some people do, but I have never had the need or desire.

I shoot two Colt SAA's for Cowboy Action Shooting and like they say, if you are going to carry a Colt (SAA) carry a screwdriver. They loosen up after every shoot! Just part of the way they are.

Chief38

 

[tomuchiron]

Hair dryer, heat gun, $12.00-harbor freight, shouldn't damage the finish.
Mike

 

[smitholdtimer]

Cross threaded screw

Hi David, you may have posted elsewhere but I have not found anything saying the Cross Threaded screw has been successfully removed. I'm glad to say that thus far I have not found one but if and when it happens, I would enjoy knowing how you did and what you did!