Technical Help loosening a taillight screw

I think any wax would suffice...

 

Sell me the taillights.

 

Holy crap, you had me fooled for a second.

 

325w>>>Sell me the taillights. >>>

Here you go. Screws are missing though.
https://www.rosiesgreatbody.com/stuff.html


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Where's the fun in that...

Jeeze they're pretty close to 39 Ford Eh!

 

I would do this, but JB Weld the nut to the screw since it looks like a low-torque application.

 

Any time you use an impact to loosen something you also have to be aware that you may break the part if its not very substantial. Thin castings are asking for trouble. I used to use those type drivers when removing screws from motorcycle cases. They were thin castings too, but they were backed by another engine case usually, so they worked pretty well.

 

This picture shows that screw going into a rusty little tab on the back of the housing, so patience and finesse are your best friends. I would go one step beyond Stogy's suggestion of supporting it with wood and make a purpose built clamping jig for it. That would free both hands to manipulate tools. Because of that rusty little tab I don't think I would use anything that provided more leverage than a screwdriver. It looks like there is enough room for a nut on the backside if the threads get boogered, so saving that tab is important. Maybe you could even TIG, braze or silver solder the nut to the tab.

 

Also before welding the nut to the screw , spray the part with anti splatter shield to protect the part from those pesky weld splatters.
Vic

 

When applying heat to small screws and in areas heat might not be good on other parts; I simply use my Weller soldering gun and hold the tip on the screw until it's good and hot. No torches, or anything that could cause damage to other parts.

 

You'll have to be careful, but applying vibration to the screw head(like using an air-hammer w/a screw-tip instead of a chisel). Vibration is what loosens the rust-bond. Concept only, as that'd destroy the bezel even w/a perfect under-suppurt), while turning it, will really help. After soaking it, cutting off the exposed rotted threads, etc. Using a good screwdriver w/a square-shank allows 1 hand to put pressure on the screw, & the other hand to use a wrench to apply twisting force. So anyways, I'd go w/the cutting back off, grinding/drilling head off, & then drilling screw body out. Use a good dremel-tool for control. Just takes a little more time. For the heat, the Weller soldering iron is the best idea, given that heat, weld-spatter & old(valuable-hard-to-get)glass & ham-fisted-techniques are 4 things that do not go together well.
Marcus...

 

If I had been doing it, I would have put a little additional effort into it and broken the glass beyond repair as well

 

If you break the lens I have some available.

 

Soak it, soak it....try different brands. Had 2x license plate lights that were tough, put a few brands of penetrant on it, walked away for a week, few temp cycles due to weather, bang, they came loose, salvaged the screws.

If lens is glass, has anyone tried a soldering iron on the screw?

 

Post No. 75, 72 hours+...is it out yet?
"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step"

 

I agree with the ATF/Acetone soak. But if that doesn’t work how about taking the head of the screw off and the JB Weld a nut to the exposed threads and then backing the nut off in a counter clockwise direction?

 

This thread has gone on far too long.

 

I hope that's the only one stuck...

 

Can't you see that you're stressing everybody out making 'em wait so long? LOL

If he's using citric acid... and he really really should be... it'll work beautifully, and it won't attack the glass or the chrome or anything. Except the rust.

But he's gotta procure his citric acid, make up his mixture and then let it soak for probably a week, maybe two.

So we won't see any results for a while. Take a break. Have a coffee. Go to the beach. Talk to the girls.

 

@spillaneswillys...show us whats left of that bitchen machine screw...every little piece of it...grrrrr...

 

Going to the beach today.

 

So I have been busy working and shoveling 16 tons of snow. Hope to get to it this weekend

 

I have it a try this evening and it will not move. When you guys mention citric juice I assume you mean like lemon juice?

 

Ok got it. I think I am first going to make a jig to hold this thing in place and really bear down on it. Two problems though the screw slot is not perfect and it almost looks crossed. Ugh

 

This may be a new record, 3 pages and 87 posts on how to get one tail light screw out.

 

^^^^^ Find the socket the above bit fits and put the socket in a T handle, should give you the leverage you need after the screw has soaked for a day or two with Kroil.