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Need help removing stuck/corroded SS screws on VST

S

Skooter

Advanced Contributor
I'm trying toremove fuel pump strainer, but screws dont budge. Currently have VST upside and soaking with PB blaster. Last night I attempted to use the impact driver to remove them, but no luck...any help certainly appreciated..
 
It sounds like you have the vst off....so if you have not already...put it in a vise and try the impact again. If there is any movement of the vst, the impact may not be fully effective.

If you have already done that, then a good set of vise grips on the heads, might bust them loose....or maybe just bust them.

Unfortunately, there is no magic solution.

Jimmy always has good ideas on these opportunities....

Mike
 
I have this cool little butane soldering iron/torch that gets REALLY hot. I would put that on each screw head for about a minute or more and then try the impact driver or Chris' technique.
Good luck.
 
Okay, I made some progress. I have a oxy/acetylene torch that I put a brazing tip on..I adjusted the guages and miraculously got a small torch flame. I heated each one up them sprayed pb blaster and they worked loose. Took me about an hour and a half for four screws. Today I will take the six off the VST cover. BTW a friend told me about a "cold" spray made by CRC called freeze-off, I bought a can today.. Im gonna try that first..Thanks again!
 
I've used that freeze stuff before with mixed results. I prefer heat. But either one works on the same principle of the different expansion/contraction rates of the two materials. And, with either, you should treat the fastener and or housing and the allow them to "re-stabilize" to ambient to achieve the desired effect. One problem with the freeze off is that it makes materials super brittle and if you use force too soon, you could cause something (like the housing) to fracture.
 
The same thing happened to me last year when I removed my VST for cleaning. I gave up and let my mechanic handle it. He used heat also. Now that you've used heat on the VST, you've most likely damaged all the o-rings and gaskets. Make sure to replace them all (if you weren't planning on doing it already).
 
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