seized crank end cap screws

[kbart1]

hey guys

i am making sure all my "natural alum." bits will be easy to remove for clean-up once i pull my motor. the 2 crank end caps with the 3 philips head screws each are frozen solid. anybody have any advice / experience breaking these things loose WTHOUT stripping the heads? all others are free'd up but these cap screws won't budge.

thanks!
kent

[jt]

Kent,
You need a Hand Impact tool such as in the link below. Pick the correct size bit and apply pressure in the direction to loosen the screw and firm pressure inwards, use a hammer and strike the end of the impact tool. Depending on how frozen they are will depend if you do any damage to the screw. Applying penetrate will help although that will be difficult when the screw is horizontal, but maybe with some creeping it will help.

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-29200-Hand- ... B0002NYDRG

http://www.ehow.com/how_4809810_use-han ... river.html

[kbart1]

thanks. i have one of those exact tools and did try to use it. didn't want to "tap" it to hard for fear of doing damage to the case. i think i will run the bike for a bit to get the case warm and see if i can break it loose then. i am using the largest philips head in the kit but still slips a little. no a big fan of philips head screws

kent

[daves79x]

You can beat the crap out of them and it won't hurt anything. They will come right loose with a couple of hard whacks. Plan on new screws anyway - they are still available from Honda.

Dave

[EMS]

You can beat the crap out of them Dave

There is crap in them screws? Never knew that Thought they were made from steel

[Don]

You can buy nearly every screw on the bike from aftermarket suppliers with allen socket heads if you prefer . . . . probably in stainless if you look around a bit. Most of those have completely flat heads vs the domed head phillips ones that Honda supplies . . . . you either like the look of you don't I guess. I prefer the look of the stock screws, plus using an impact driver I think you can tighten the stock screws MORE than the aftermarket variety

Don

[Larry Zimmer]

Re: "crap in them screws"! Cheap steel, Mike. Probably made from Chinese rebar.

[kbart1]

hey guys

got these screws loose in no time with no "crap" involved. borrowed a buddys cordless impact gun with a large philips bit and they popped loose instantly. guess i'm headin to the tool store to grab my own gun, sure i'll be needing it again. ready to drop the engine now. hopefully no surprises. saw some good posts on engine removal. highly reccomend one of these guns if you don't have one.

thanks
kent