First post ever. Looking to share a trick I found to remove wicked-stuck oil pump cover screws that may work for others.
First I read all the other posts in the forum I could find on the subject and found them extremely helpful. I was able to successfully remove all 7 old screws, but not without much effort and stress.
1) I followed the advice on this forum and bought some #3 size phillips screw bits. Mine were Milwaukee branded, found at Ace Hardware. 2 small and 1 2" which I used to hammer the screw heads with.
2) I used PB bolt blaster to spray the screws down over night (not sure it helped TBH)
3) Holding the 2" bit with pliers I used a 3 lb hammer turned sideways to strongly "tap" (smash) the bit into each screw head in hopes to break the stuck screws I am not sure this helped either, but they did seat deeply at that point.
4) I strongly support the idea of tightening the screw ever so slightly to "break" the screw loose. Before trying to back it out/unscrew it. That idea was posted in the forum and is brilliant advice.
5) finally, I took a 15" 3/8 ratchet, a 3/8 to 1/4 extension, a 1/4" socket and my #3 short phillips screw bit and I found a 4 ft piece of window trim wood I had laying around and used it to pry against the drag link and force the ratchet very strongly against the screw. I used so much force I was bending the wood. See pictures. I thought a 1x4 would be too weak and a 2x4 too thick. This piece worked and allowed just enough pressure to hold the ratchet to the screw head.
6) Finally I think I was putting about 30-40+ foot pounds of torque through the ratchet in order to break the screws free. It was shocking how hard it was to break them free. I did nearly round out the top right screw before trying this leverage board trick, but finally got it to break. - brutal.
Anyway - first forum post - really appreciate all the prior posts. I hope someone else finds this helpful. Good Luck - you've got this.
First I read all the other posts in the forum I could find on the subject and found them extremely helpful. I was able to successfully remove all 7 old screws, but not without much effort and stress.
1) I followed the advice on this forum and bought some #3 size phillips screw bits. Mine were Milwaukee branded, found at Ace Hardware. 2 small and 1 2" which I used to hammer the screw heads with.
2) I used PB bolt blaster to spray the screws down over night (not sure it helped TBH)
3) Holding the 2" bit with pliers I used a 3 lb hammer turned sideways to strongly "tap" (smash) the bit into each screw head in hopes to break the stuck screws I am not sure this helped either, but they did seat deeply at that point.
4) I strongly support the idea of tightening the screw ever so slightly to "break" the screw loose. Before trying to back it out/unscrew it. That idea was posted in the forum and is brilliant advice.
5) finally, I took a 15" 3/8 ratchet, a 3/8 to 1/4 extension, a 1/4" socket and my #3 short phillips screw bit and I found a 4 ft piece of window trim wood I had laying around and used it to pry against the drag link and force the ratchet very strongly against the screw. I used so much force I was bending the wood. See pictures. I thought a 1x4 would be too weak and a 2x4 too thick. This piece worked and allowed just enough pressure to hold the ratchet to the screw head.
6) Finally I think I was putting about 30-40+ foot pounds of torque through the ratchet in order to break the screws free. It was shocking how hard it was to break them free. I did nearly round out the top right screw before trying this leverage board trick, but finally got it to break. - brutal.
Anyway - first forum post - really appreciate all the prior posts. I hope someone else finds this helpful. Good Luck - you've got this.
