Removing screws made from cheese.

[Roger Explosion]

I'm sure this has been covered many times before, but search engine proved a bit vague.
I'm trying to disconect the speedo drive cable so I can remove the front wheel of my bike. It is held in by a tiny little screw that as far as I can see is made from cheese. Not helping things is the fact that it seems to have been tightened with a little too much gusto. My attempts to remove it are only resulting in the head being mangled slowly. Before I inflict further damage, can anyone give me some tips on how to remove stubborn, soft headed screws?

[g0zer]

get a drift that matches the screws head diameter and give it half a dozen firm taps with a gympie hammer to forge the head of the screw

then take your best matching screwdriver and give that a couple of taps to seat it securely into the now folded over screw head- then turn

i dont even try to undo old screws anymore without doing the above trick first.

[xanthian]

Tried cutting a slot into it with a dremel and using a flathead screwdriver on it?

If the head's already past that point, you're stuck with either welding or easy-outs as your only two options.

[Desmo]

Impact driver.
Go and buy one now, they are an essential tool when it comes to taking apart old bikes.

[Roger Explosion]

Impact driver.
Go and buy one now, they are an essential tool when it comes to taking apart old bikes.

Ta. Kinda new to this older bike stuff, so I am very much doing the learn as I go method. Putting it back together should prove to be interesting

[GD Engineering (Gavin)]

If you hit it with an impact driver or drift on the bike, the cheesy cast aluminium case may break. Need to wedge a dolly behind it first mate

[thro]

Impact driver.
Go and buy one now, they are an essential tool when it comes to taking apart old bikes.

This.

Also buy a blowtorch (one of those little handheld butane jobs).

Heat helps.

[Captain Starfish]

Ta. Kinda new to this older bike stuff, so I am very much doing the learn as I go method. Putting it back together should prove to be interesting

And consider replacing the crusty old screw - there are a few nut and bolt places in Perth.

[Desmo]

If I ever replace nuts/bolts it's generally with Allen key bolts.

[Roger Explosion]

And consider replacing the crusty old screw - there are a few nut and bolt places in Perth.

I'll replace every bolt that comes out. I want to get some of those flash quick release fairing fasteners as well.

If I ever replace nuts/bolts it's generally with Allen key bolts.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense

[Captain Starfish]

Careful with the flash quick release fairing fasteners - I have a pillion seat cowl still scratched to the shithouse from when it went flying down Tonkin Hwy because the quick release fasteners quick released

[Desmo]

You talking about Dzus clips?

[Captain Starfish]

Dunno if they were Dzus, suspect they were a cheaper quarter turn knockoff.

Proper clips, I'd expect to hang on a lot better

[lunar_c]

If you get really stuck, carefully grind the head of the screw off completely, and remove the item .. then once you're left with the stub, give it a tap with a hammer .. spray with penetrating oil .. heat it up and get the locking pliers onto it.

[thro]

zip ties ftw

[Roger Explosion]

Thanks for the tips guys. In the end I got the stubborn little bugger out by cutting a new slot with a tiny hacksaw blade, then using a rather big flat head screwdriver. Finnally everything is dissasembled so I can send the wheels and body work off for powder/paint and then start the fun job of putting everything back together, replacing old for new as I go.