fcs screws!!??

Hello there! I have just finished my first board!! It´s been great fun! Now to the problem. One of my fcs screws is impossible to screw out. The screw has probably been worn down and now the fcs key wont fit. What can I do? I would be grateful for any advice! stay stoked

is it the screw or is it the key? Try either grinding off the last 1/4" or so of the hex end so you have a good, unrounded hex there and see what happens. Providing you can get the screw out, replace it. If that doesn’t work, search the archives for ‘replacing FCS’. It won’t be pretty. doc…

once I had to deal with a ground down hex screw: I tried drilling into the metal with a small drill bit,hoping I could get a hole to tap one of those little eyeglass screwdrivers into. While drilling for like a straight minute, the hexscrew started slowly turning and backed out.It moved out slowly, like a 1/4 turn every12 seconds or so.When enough of the stub was above the plastic, I latched onto it with small needle-nose vice-grips and finished backing it out.

Try putting some penetrating oil on the screw and also heat it up a bit with a hair dryer let it sit for awhile.Those keys they supply are stamped out crap…buy a decent allen wrench with a srewdriver handle.

Howzit Dan, Had the same problem awhile back, use an easy out tool. They’re designed just for this type of application. Aloha, Kokua

OK guys, here are the answers: To remove the offending screw in FCS plug, heat it up using a soldering iron (sit the sharp tip of the soldering iron on top of the head of the grub screw) and push. It will slip down and fall into the slot as the plastic melts. Since the plug is PVC, you will probably find you can simply screw a new screw in from the top. No rethreading required because the plastic is soft. Also, why do the FCS keys wear out ? Answer so they do not wear out the grub screw and cause this drama. Remember that the shaft of the screw is long enough to cut a bit off(or grind) and keep using like DOC said. Try this, it really works and takes about 30 seconds. No reinstalls necessary!!!

hey Kokua, I have an easu out tool and occaisionally, I have found it doesnt work. Thats when i grab the soldering iron!!

that happened to me one time except the problem was a samll piece of plastic (from the sanding down the plug) had lodged in the screw hole. A blast of compressed air usually does the trick. I didnt have a compressor as i was just going out for a surf so i used safey pin to dig it out.

use an allen key that is the next size up

Howzit installer, I’ve had no problems using an easy out. Just put in the hole give it a tap to set it in the screw and comes out like butter. Aloha, Kokua

If it’s a case of a worn-out hex screw head where the hole is too big for the allen key,try this too: put a little 5 min. epoxy on the tip of an fcs key and stick it in til it fully cures,like an hour or more. Then carefully crank it either down or up(whichever is closest to removal).5200 marine caulk works too, needs longer to dry. Also, a little wax put on the hex screw threads makes them turn a whole lot easier,when you have one that cranks kinda hard.

Yep, and I’d suggest putting a little wax on the threads as soon as you get a board to keep this sort of thing from happening. doc… http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Cheilopogon&speciesname=melanurus

This happened to me and it can be solved easily Get a tiny carbide drill bit and drill down through the FCS screw. Just be careful doing this. You need to get an anticlockwise screw (available at good hardware / engineering stores) ./ Just ask for plug removoing kits. Bring in an FSC plug and show the store guy. He’ll sell you an anticlockwise screw. Just stert screwing this into teh damaged FCS screw and when it bites keep turning the and the FCS screw will start turning and come out. EASY Good luck