Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

I've never used PB Blaster. Does it work better than, say, Liquid
Wrench or other penetrating oils?

MG


"Mickey" wrote in message news:

Have you tried PB Blaster and heat?

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

Exactly! The whole assembly is flush with the cockpit sole. The
cover is male, threads into the frame. Nothing to grab onto at all,
except the two little holes (1/4" deep) for the spanner. I've thought
of drilling the cover so I could get a good grip on it but then I
would have a cover with holes in it, and I don't know where I could
ever get a replacement (it's 1976 vintage) -MG

If the emergency rudder cover plate is anything like the smooth, flat one on
the Mirage 33 I sail on, this tool may not be able to grip the edges.

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

"Mickey" wrote in message news:U4ljc.278$A27.205@fed1read06...
Have you tried PB Blaster and heat?

I haven't tried PB Blaster. Does it work better than Liquid Wrench?
I've also heard of Kroil. Has anyone here used that? Any opinions as
to which is best?

M_G

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 04:32:08 -0700, Mister Grumpy wrote:

I haven't tried PB Blaster. Does it work better than Liquid Wrench? I've
also heard of Kroil. Has anyone here used that? Any opinions as to which
is best?


I've never used PB Blaster, but I have had excellent results with Kroil.
I don't even bother with Liquid Wrench. Your mileage may vary.

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

"Mister Grumpy" wrote in message

In the cockpit sole on my sailboat is an aluminum cover over the
rudderpost, where the emergency tiller is attached when needed.


Glad this isn't a real emergency....


You mentioned maybe drilling a hole in it. Seems to me that maybe
that is the thing to do. Then once it's out maybe you can install some
type of handle on there so that if you ever DO need access in an
emergency you'll be better off.

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

"Mister Grumpy" wrote in message
om...
"Mickey" wrote in message
news:U4ljc.278$A27.205@fed1read06...
Have you tried PB Blaster and heat?

I haven't tried PB Blaster. Does it work better than Liquid Wrench?
I've also heard of Kroil. Has anyone here used that? Any opinions as
to which is best?

M_G

I use nothing but CorrosionX which is an amazing (but expensive)
lubricant/protectant.
Threw away the PB, WD, LW and others years ago. I would give it try if it's
available near you.

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

"Mister Grumpy" wrote in message
om...
Please send me an email or reply here if you have any suggestions to
my latest difficulty, which is described below.

It is normally removed with a spanner wrench (which I have, but it
doesn't get very good purchase on the two holes it fits into). As it
hasn't been removed in two years it is frozen and I can't get it to
open.

I would first try drilling new holes for the spanner wrench you have. These
are probably 3/16 diameter holes, so if you drill another pair 90 degrees
from where the original ones are it won't look bad at all.

If that doesn't work, then I would enlarge the holes and get a bigger
spanner wrench. Or as my father used to say, "Don't force it, get a bigger
hammer!" I would try enlarging the original holes first, then maybe you
could get two spanner wrenches on it at one time.

It is possible that it is so corroded that it will never come off. If you
come to this conclusion, then I would try cutting out the inside piece and
try to save the frame. It is possible that you could find a replacement
that had the same diameter and thread so you could just replace the inner
piece. It may look a little funny with an old, oxidized frame and new
plastic inner piece, but it might be your only option.

Rod

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

Mister Grumpy wrote:

Exactly! The whole assembly is flush with the cockpit sole. The
cover is male, threads into the frame. Nothing to grab onto at all,
except the two little holes (1/4" deep) for the spanner. I've thought
of drilling the cover so I could get a good grip on it but then I
would have a cover with holes in it, and I don't know where I could
ever get a replacement (it's 1976 vintage) -MG

If the emergency rudder cover plate is anything like the smooth, flat one
on the Mirage 33 I sail on, this tool may not be able to grip the edges.

Drill out the small holes with a larger bit so you can get a better grip
with a different spanner wrench with larger pins. Tap the holes with pipe
threads (1/8") and install pipe plugs once you have cap removed. Use Teflon
thread tape or pipe sealant that doesn't harden so the plugs can be removed
in the future.
--
________m___~¿ô____m______________________________ _____

Help!: How to unstick stuck aluminum cover?
 

PB Blaster is the stuff. It is far superior to Liquid Wrench. It smells
bad and tha smell never seems to go away, but the chemical angle is
definately the less obtrusive. This stuff is so good, I sprayed it on
exhast manifold bolts and backed them all out with a 1/2 inch rachet . .
.. no worries. Find it. Try it and keep your vintage boat vintage.

Al

Mister Grumpy wrote:

I've never used PB Blaster. Does it work better than, say, Liquid
Wrench or other penetrating oils?

MG

"Mickey" wrote in message news:

Have you tried PB Blaster and heat?