Stripped star head optic plate screw
- Thread starter robcaleb
- Start date
Sld1959
Ronin
Looks like somebody ate his Wheaties lol
Just got off the phone with their cust service. From the gentleman's own admission; "With the Allen wrench we send out, there isn't enough leverage so it always strips the screws out; it's a known issue." I politely told him if it's a known issue then QA needs to be told to fix their crap (meaning the issue) instead of letting it slide, because it causes more call volume, product waste, noneconomical expenditure of time and resources, and extremely poor customer satisfaction. If this is the fist impression, I'm really not impressed. He told me I would have to take it to a gunsmith or send it in. Dandy. Just dandy.
MrMichaelActual
Master Class
Heating it up to see if you can loosen the Blue Loctite is a good idea, first get a T10 and file it just a smidge with a nail file or very fine metal file, they are usually tapered so you want to make it just a hair bigger than 10, like 10.1 or 10.2... then it will fit what is left a bit tighter...
Old_Me
SAINT
you should have told him how you really feel............now, when you send it back..??
instead of maybe a 2 week turnaround.........expect maybe 3 months........i mean after all, Christmas is coming, and all that holiday package shipping to deal with..........
Grayfox
Professional
Try finding an Allen wrench just big enough that you have to drive it in the damaged screw hole with a light tap of a hammer. Warm the screws with a hair drier, heat gun or similar. DO NOT USE A FLAME. Apply light to moderate twisting pressure while tapping downward on the wrench with a light hammer. The idea is to vibrate the screw loose.
This same method can be used with a flat head screwdriver with a blade the size to can be lightly driven and jammed into the damaged screw head.
This same method can be used with a flat head screwdriver with a blade the size to can be lightly driven and jammed into the damaged screw head.
maybe I should have read the entire post before speaking up. I still would suggest the OP contacts customer service to resolve the issue.
powerboatr
Professional
ditto a bit of heat with hair dryer after a dab of jb weld to the secure a small screw or bit to the head
Area52
Professional
So they supplied the Allen or a Torx key? Did they supply the wrong type or size?
Drilling those stripped screws out will require even more precision, if if just to try an extractor.
Let Springfield deal with it.
Heating from a soldering iron might work, still the right tool is needed.
Get a T-Handle set (SAE & Metric) always best to have on hand even for an automotive and the household tool box. They’re easier to see and maintain at 90° than those little L keys.
Live and learn - as I have.
The slightest slip or not applying pressure at a perfect 90°, will always strip a set screw, for that reason I never use the L shaped single keys anymore or the All-in-One kind that look like a folding pocket knife. Rare cases of limited space or clearance I have short L key sets for that.
Makes you wonder if the LGS had the same problem in the past or the gunsmith wasn’t on duty.
Drilling those stripped screws out will require even more precision, if if just to try an extractor.
Let Springfield deal with it.
Heating from a soldering iron might work, still the right tool is needed.
Get a T-Handle set (SAE & Metric) always best to have on hand even for an automotive and the household tool box. They’re easier to see and maintain at 90° than those little L keys.
Live and learn - as I have.
The slightest slip or not applying pressure at a perfect 90°, will always strip a set screw, for that reason I never use the L shaped single keys anymore or the All-in-One kind that look like a folding pocket knife. Rare cases of limited space or clearance I have short L key sets for that.
Makes you wonder if the LGS had the same problem in the past or the gunsmith wasn’t on duty.
Old_Me
SAINT
the gun store most likely had the same issue, and lived and learned to take a pass on installations.
powerboatr
Professional
i imagine so
seems crappy such crappy screws are used.
If you're a good DIY'er, have patience and access to quality tools, try one of the suggestions already given. Heat really does help in many situations. But think about the potential for even more damage to the screws and/or slide. One of those Torx screws looks DIY doable, the other is 'iffy' at best. If you don't care about the cover plate you could carefully cut slots across the plate and screw heads and use a flat head screw driver to remove the screws. The goal is not to cut to deep or you might shear the screw heads off trying to remove them.
This might be one of those times it's best to let an expert do the job so as to minimize potential damage.
I recently tried installing night sights on one of my 1911 pistols. The manufacturer is well known for pressing their oem sights onto the slide so that no mortal can remove them. I was using a Wheeler Sight Tool pusher, probably the heaviest duty tool for sight pushing there is. No amount of force would budge the rear sight. I also tried a brass punch and bf hammer with no success. I had initially removed the tiny set screw and used a liberal amount of penetrating oil.
I finally carefully cut through the oem rear 'tactical' sight with a fine tooth heavy duty hacksaw, cutting in increments and checking frequently to see if I had accomplished what I hoped for by using the Wheeler tool. My cut was dead center above the rear dovetail. I did not use a Dremel. It might have been faster than a hacksaw but does not allow for as much control. Slow and steady is what works for me in the shop. With that thin slot cut down to a point above the slide dovetail, the sight was much easier to remove. I had relieved just enough pressure that the Wheeler tool worked.
It might not have ended as successfully though...
This might be one of those times it's best to let an expert do the job so as to minimize potential damage.
I recently tried installing night sights on one of my 1911 pistols. The manufacturer is well known for pressing their oem sights onto the slide so that no mortal can remove them. I was using a Wheeler Sight Tool pusher, probably the heaviest duty tool for sight pushing there is. No amount of force would budge the rear sight. I also tried a brass punch and bf hammer with no success. I had initially removed the tiny set screw and used a liberal amount of penetrating oil.
I finally carefully cut through the oem rear 'tactical' sight with a fine tooth heavy duty hacksaw, cutting in increments and checking frequently to see if I had accomplished what I hoped for by using the Wheeler tool. My cut was dead center above the rear dovetail. I did not use a Dremel. It might have been faster than a hacksaw but does not allow for as much control. Slow and steady is what works for me in the shop. With that thin slot cut down to a point above the slide dovetail, the sight was much easier to remove. I had relieved just enough pressure that the Wheeler tool worked.
It might not have ended as successfully though...
Picking upba set of easy outs after work. I'll probably just take it back though. Seriously sour about this whole thing. I'd rather not do a product review while in a bad mood because I won't be very fair.
You also need a good set of drill bits if you're using an Easy Out. Drill straight into the screws in increments cautious not to go off center drilling into the fine female threads in the slide.
Be careful you don't snap off the small diameter drill bit or the small diameter easy out inside the damaged screws. I've done both at one time or another and created more problems to deal with.
Be careful you don't snap off the small diameter drill bit or the small diameter easy out inside the damaged screws. I've done both at one time or another and created more problems to deal with.
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Old_Me
SAINT
send it to SA, they do this sort of repair nearly daily..
christ sakes...in the end it'll be less stressful.
Got the set of extractors, made sure I tool my time, and whaa la, issue resolved. Now I can't wait to fire this thing. Thank you to everyone who responded and helped me come up with the best solution. You all are great!
Attachments
KillerFord1977
SAINT
Bassbob
Emissary
Buy good replacement screws for that thing. McMaster Carr or something. Several vendors carry high quality Screws for optics and plates.
SimonRL
Hellcat
I
Well actually I do know, it was a rhetorical question. Which I asked myself in my head and texted out at the same time. So I guess it’s a rhetorical observation. Is that even a thing?
I think I’m getting @Old_Me syndrome. I’m going outside to look for flattened frogs on my driveway.
Don’t know why gun manufacturers and optics manufacturers insist on using the cheapest screws possible.
Well actually I do know, it was a rhetorical question. Which I asked myself in my head and texted out at the same time. So I guess it’s a rhetorical observation. Is that even a thing?
I think I’m getting @Old_Me syndrome. I’m going outside to look for flattened frogs on my driveway.