If it's tight enough to require this much intervention and compenstion, just drill off all of the screw heads and replace the 2-D block and the countersunk screws. Don't panic.
You're not dealing with a relic, it's a modern ham rig. Any part(s) can be replaced easily, and Elecraft support for problems like this is excellent. After this much discussion I have little doubt Elecraft tech support would not send the replacement parts to you gratis in an envelope pretty quick-quick. They almost always do this. It is Their Way. 73, matt W6NIA On Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:50:27 -0700, you wrote: >While I'm at it, here are a couple of tricks used by aviation mechanics. > >Using a good screwdriver tip, dip it spark plug cleaner abrasive, then >try it on the screwhead. > >OK, so you don't keep a stock of spark plug cleaner abrasive, another >trick is to use a very small amount of crazy glue on the screwdriver tip >and cement the tip to the screw. > >One that works for me with small screws, but it has a higher risk of >damaging something if it slips off. And wear eye protection, most of >the times my flush cutters failed they sent the broken blade flying as a >projectile. I put one blade of the flush cutter in the centre of the >screw and grip the outside edge of the screw with the other blade and >getting started backing out. > >Another risky approach, again eye protection is recommended, if you have >a small enough chisel, then with light taps from a light ball peen >hammer drive the chisel into one edge of the screw counter clockwise >enough to loosen it. > >Lastly, and only if you have good eyes, an excellent sense of having the >drill bit square to the screw, and a steady hand, you could drill out >the centre of the screw and remove the remains. In cases where the >screw bottomed out onto something solid and nothing else worked, this >usually does. There is very very high risk of drilling off square >though and damaging the original threads. > > Ron VE8RT > > > >On Sun, 2011-11-13 at 21:15 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote: >> I would like to add 2 things. First, a worn screwdriver tip can strip >> out the screwhead - if there is any doubt and the corners of the tip >> look at all shiny, buy a new one - of course, after the screwhead is >> stripped, it is like closing the barn door after the horse got out. I >> replace the #1 phillips screwdriver at my workbench every 3 or 4 >> months. Once the edges get rounded, there is danger of stripping out >> the screwhead. When buying a new screwdriver, get a good one, bargain >> tools will cause you headaches in the long run. >> >> Secondly, this is a potential problem with steel screws binding in >> aluminum - it is also temperature dependent - aluminum and steel do not >> expand at the same rate. A tiny drop of oil on the screw threads when >> inserting the screw will prevent future occurrences, and often a drop of >> oil around the screw head and a half hour of patience while it seeps in >> will allow the screw to be removed. >> >> That is just my experience of working with screws accumulated over the >> past 50 years. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 11/13/2011 5:06 PM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: >> > Besides what Bill has contributed to your issue, I had to leave the 2D >> > in place and manage to remove all the other screws so that the block >> > came off with the side panel. I then used a traditional pliers to >> > undo the block. So like I said, no way I made it that tight >> > originally. Maybe it's an Elecraft feature...self-tightening screws? >> > LOL >> > >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
