Rusted screws

[tanaquil]

What do you do if a torx screw refuses to budge no matter how much leverage you use on it?

I just tried to pull my Classic out of storage, which worked on last check. When I turned it over to remove the screws, I saw some corrosion on the lower screw nearest the power outlet, and the inside rattled. I'm quite sure that's not a sound you want to hear. Sure enough, the machine when turned on doesn't even make it to the sad mac chime, and the video is scrambled.

One screw came out with no trouble, and it looks like I may never have replaced the other three after the last time I opened the case. But the rusted one is stuck fast, and rapidly becoming stripped by my many efforts to get it to budge. Do I have any options before I take it to the local repair shop to have them, I don't know, drill a hole straight through?

No matter how bad the inside may look, I'd like to try to save this machine. It was my very first mac, and I have a sentimental attachment to it, even though I have many better vintage machines from the same era.

 

[techknight]

penetrating oil. WD-40, weasel piss, take your pick. 

 

[tanaquil]

Thank you! I used to own a can of WD-40, wonder where it went. Guess it's time for a trip to the hardware store.

 

[bibilit]

I you can't removed it in the end, drill the head...

 

[ScutBoy]

Let it soak overnight with some penetrating oil. You don't need a lot

Then apply steady, prolonged force to the screw - don't think of "popping" it loose - think about a slow, steady, building force turn. If the head is really stripped, you can try the next up size Torx (or a regular hex head). You could try a couple of light taps with a hammer to get the larger size seated in the stripped head.

If that doesn't work, then you can try and drill the head. If you have a steady hand, you can do this yourself with a hand drill with a metal bit. Apply the drill lightly in-line with the shaft. Your goal is to separate the head from the screw, while leaving enough of the shaft available once the head pops off that you can grab it with a vice grips or pliers once the case is off to turn it out.

Likewise, if the head of the screw is exposed enough to get a grip, you can use a vice grips to grab the head as perpendicular as possible to the shaft of the screw and turn it out that way, but the case screws are often inset into the plastic making this problematic.

My late 1940's pickup truck restoration has afforded me many opportunities to remove stuck screws/bolts. The principles are the same

 

[CelGen]

Dremel a slot in it and go at it with a flat head screwdriver.

 

[tanaquil]

Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions, that helps a lot. I'm going to be traveling this weekend, but next week I'll pick up some WD40, and see how it goes.

 

[rsolberg]

The screw out (or screw up as I call it) is one of my favourite tools.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-screw-out-174-damaged-screw/p-00952154000P

 

[Paralel]

In the times I've attempted to use the "Screw Out" it has not worked. Although I suspect that may have had something to do with the screws being made of a harder material than the "Screw Out"