seized screws rust or whatever was: leaky batteries! - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

2 Dec 2003

On Dec 2, 17:18, Fred Cisin wrote:
...
  On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 jpero(a)sympatico.ca wrote:
  While everybody else is talking about cleaning up
the leakers,
 Is this chemical is good use to dissolve rust on steel screw is
 rust seized in the potmetal or aluminum distributor? 
 [...]
...
  The more common problem with steel screws into
aluminum parts, such as
...
  drives, particularly if subjected to weather, etc., is
for the head of the
...
  screw to rust, but the aluminum hole that it screws
into to corrode.

 Usually the best approach is to get it out where you can work on it.
 A penetrating oil, OR COKE, if permitted to soak into the hole overnight
...
  will sometimes help loosen the grip. 
Agreed -- don't use phosphoric acid because iron phosphate will gum up
the hole just as badly as any rust.  Penetrating oil (*not* WD40 -- the
stuff we use over here is called PlusGas) is the best thing to try, or
a mineral acid like hydrochloric acid if that fails.

I'll snip the rest of Fred's excellent reply, except:

...
  Then use tools that fit TIGHTLY to the head of the
fastener (use 6 point
...
  not 12 point for hex), and DON'T use a #1 Phillips
for #2 fasteners! 
And in the UK/Europe, don't use a Phillips driver on a
Pozidrive/SupaDriv screw, or vice-versa.

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York