Rock Warrior Wheels - Trim Ring Screw Stuck

[JZelnick]

In preparation for my incoming Ridge Grapplers and BP-51 setup, I thought that I would disassemble and clean my set of 5 Rock Warriors. I was able to get the first 59 screws out with a small impact wrench and had no issues. The last screw in the last wheel has had me pulling my hair out. I have tried using small and large impact guns and big breaker bars and only seem to break bits. Last night my friend came over and we tried a few different ways and ended up breaking a hardened bit off in the screw. Tomorrow he is going to stop by a machine shop he uses to see if they can help.

I need to get this done this week. Does anyone have any experience with this? What worked for you?

 

[Markuson]

In preparation for my incoming Ridge Grapplers and BP-51 setup, I thought that I would disassemble and clean my set of 5 Rock Warriors. I was able to get the first 59 screws out with a small impact wrench and had no issues. The last screw in the last wheel has had me pulling my hair out. I have tried using small and large impact guns and big breaker bars and only seem to break bits. Last night my friend came over and we tried a few different ways and ended up breaking a hardened bit off in the screw. Tomorrow he is going to stop by a machine shop he uses to see if they can help.

I need to get this done this week. Does anyone have any experience with this? What worked for you?

So is the star stripped?

I would use a dremel tool cutting wheel to create a wide, flathead screwdriver slot. That will give you significantly more leverage since it will turn from the outer-most edge of the screw. Then use the widest flathead screwdriver you have, or the widest flathead bit, and adapt it to a wrench or breaker bar.

If the bit breaks, get a monster thick, short flathead screwdriver and strap/wrench it for leverage.

 

[Markuson]

PS... When u finally get it out, I can mail you a couple replacement screws.

 

[JZelnick]

So is the star stripped?

I would use a dremel tool cutting wheel to create a wide, flathead screwdriver slot. That will give you significantly more leverage since it will turn from the outer-most edge of the screw. Then use the widest flathead screwdriver you have, or the widest flathead bit, and adapt it to a wrench or breaker bar.

If the bit breaks, get a monster thick, short flathead screwdriver and strap/wrench it for leverage.

Currently there is a hardened bit stuck in the torx screw. It is not stripped. Not sure if a dremel will be able to cut through it, but I will give this method a shot. Thank you for the offer on the screws!

 

[RET2]

PB Blaster and or heat usually help. BTW those screws are torqued in INCH LBS not foot lbs

 

[CLHickman]

In preparation for my incoming Ridge Grapplers and BP-51 setup, I thought that I would disassemble and clean my set of 5 Rock Warriors. I was able to get the first 59 screws out with a small impact wrench and had no issues. The last screw in the last wheel has had me pulling my hair out. I have tried using small and large impact guns and big breaker bars and only seem to break bits. Last night my friend came over and we tried a few different ways and ended up breaking a hardened bit off in the screw. Tomorrow he is going to stop by a machine shop he uses to see if they can help.

I need to get this done this week. Does anyone have any experience with this? What worked for you?

Same thing happened to me. I ended up having to tap the screw/bit. I'm currently down a screw on my spare rim.

@Markuson - I'll have to hit you up for a replacement if you have spares!

 

[Markuson]

Same thing happened to me. I ended up having to tap the screw/bit. I'm currently down a screw on my spare rim.

@Markuson - I'll have to hit you up for a replacement if you have spares!

PM your address. I’ll send a few.

 

[TeCKis300]

Currently there is a hardened bit stuck in the torx screw. It is not stripped. Not sure if a dremel will be able to cut through it, but I will give this method a shot. Thank you for the offer on the screws!

@Markuson 's got the right idea. Yes, a dremel most definitely will be able to slot it. If you are able to go deep enough without hitting the trim, the slot will relieve the tension on screw shank and it'll come out easy. That's unless there galling in the threads. Are these screws stainless steel? I seem to hear about it too often that is sure seems like there some dissimilar metal corrosion or galling going on.

You may need to drill it out which isn't the end of the world. The trim is decorative anyways right? If you have to drill the threads out, you can always helicoil or JBweld and re-tap.

All standard issue procedures. Wrench long enough and everyone will come across a stuck fastener. Often for fasteners, you can also try screwing it in, then back out too. Impacts help here.

 

[TonyP]

Heat and beat

 

[c4xplsv]

I had the star strip on one and freaked out....after the initial panic I remembered that a reverse tap was my ticket out of the mess I was in. It worked but I didn’t have a broken bit in mine either.

The broken bit in yours seems like the biggest issue - but maybe the machine shop can use a drill press to drill out the center of the screw and reverse tap the damaged screw out.

The replacement screws can be purchased by the bag on eBay - I can’t recall the part number but they are cheap.

 

[Markuson]

I had the star strip on one and freaked out....after the initial panic I remembered that a reverse tap was my ticket out of the mess I was in. It worked but I didn’t have a broken bit in mine either.

The broken bit in yours seems like the biggest issue - but maybe the machine shop can use a drill press to drill out the center of the screw and reverse tap the damaged screw out.

The replacement screws can be purchased by the bag on eBay - I can’t recall the part number but they are cheap.

They are about $4 per screw. Or...I’ll send ya a few for free.

 

[c4xplsv]

Well ok, $20-$30 for 10 isn’t “cheap” but it wasn’t catastrophically expensive either

But free is nice too...

 

[Markuson]

Well ok, $20-$30 for 10 isn’t “cheap” but it wasn’t catastrophically expensive either

But free is nice too...

Up to you, mate!

 

[Yossarian]

A punch with a fine point driven at an angle will get the broken torx bit out of the screw. Like @TonyP said, heat and beat, but with something like this:

Welcome to Sears.com

Dremil a slot like @Markuson said, or try another torx bit. I sacrificed many getting stuck screws out of the TRD "beauty ring".

HTH.

 

[TonyP]

A punch with a fine point driven at an angle will get the broken torx bit out of the screw. Like @TonyP said, heat and beat, but with something like this:

Welcome to Sears.com

Dremil a slot like @Markuson said, or try another torx bit. I sacrificed many getting stuck screws out of the TRD "beauty ring".

HTH.

Yup, those hammer impacts are pretty great if used properly.

 

[bloc]

Have a shop weld a washer onto the screw head, then a nut onto that. It will probably spin out super easy at that point.

Having done the welding thing a couple times myself and seen it work for other people a handful more, I doubt I’ll be slotting or using screw extractors on anything ever again. It works that well.

 

[Yossarian]

Have a shop weld a washer onto the screw head, then a nut onto that. It will probably spin out super easy at that point.

Having done the welding thing a couple times myself and seen it work for other people a handful more, I doubt I’ll be slotting or using screw extractors on anything ever again. It works that well.

Another reason I need to learn how to weld.