FCS Plug Screw Thread destroyed, how to repair?

General Discussion
1

Hey everyone,

last week was a very cruel one for my boards surfing some rivers… 3 have to be repaired and 2 fins lost…

I got a hit on the fin and the fin got ripped out. But not only the fin, also the screw threads of both of my FCS Plugs (the old ones not X2)  now are gone. Really strange, because normally the plugs break out of the board and have to be reinstalled, but not this time. So I’m thinking what I could do to be able to screw my fins back in?

  1. Drill a hole from the other side of the plug and cut a screw thread in

  2. Seal the damaged hole and cut the screw thread there again? Resin with microballoons?

  3. Please don’t tell me that breaking out both plugs and adding new ones is the way to go :frowning:

Thanks

2

I’ve been known to make a new hole on the other side of the plug and thread-tap it. 

 

JD

3

Parick - no need to replace plug - take a little ball of surf wax and put it inside the plug -so you’re blocking where the screw comes into the cavity - this is so resin will not get into the fin tab section. Put a little chap stick or vaseline on the last 1/2 " of the fin key. Put a very thin coat of wd 40 on the outside of a good screw. Put the key in the screw. Put a piece of masking tape over the screw hole with an opening for the screw. Mix up a little slow going off amount of polyurethane resin - not epoxy - dip a nail or something in the resin and coat the inside of the screw hole  - you don’t have to fill the hole - just give the wall a good coating. Screw the screw into the hole to the usual tightening depth - which means it will be going into the surf wax. Keep pressure on the wax so it doesn’t get pushed away from the wall of the cavity.   Let totally harden.  Back out screw next day. Clean up.  Polyurethane resin will bond better even though not as strong.

4

Thanks patrickfreen, sounds very interesting and a bit easier than I had done it. Allways some good advices to learn from here, but I only have Epoxy to work with.

I’m taking speedneedles way because that was also my preferred way and the easiest one. I just didn’t know if there would be a downside. Thank you, I often enjoy your posts and advice! :slight_smile:

5

 

Or epoxy the fin in the box…no screws necessary. then the next time it happens you can replace the whole thing.

6

I think I’d just buy some bigger (larger diameter) stainless screws and a tap to match.  Rethread the holes and screw those suckers in.  You won’t be able to use any of the nifty fin screw wrenches that are available…FCS, etc.   You’ll have to carry a specific hex wrench that fits the new screws.  No big deal.  Once they’re in, you can pretty much leave them alone unless you’re traveling.

7

Patricks idea sounds workable.  I’ve managed in the past to rethread the stripped hole by just running the grub screw down deeper into the hole until it catches and holds.  You could also retap the hole with a tap.  I would try the same size as the grub screw and see if that will realign the threads.

8

epoxy or poly resin the screw in place…then remove it when cured…done.

herb