can't undo flush screws behind clutch

[79-GS550-L]

weird... maybe there was something wrong with my tool... the spring was hardly stronger than my hand! And I'm no muscle man :-D. Tomorrow I'll go get a new one, different brand, and see if that spring is stronger.

[renobruce]

I like to thinK I'm pretty good with an impact driver. However, these are probably the worst ones on the whole bike. I don't know if it's a softer metal or because they are flush type, but they just suck. I wouldn't feel bad if one or two have to be destroyed to get them out.

I agree. When I split my cases, those were the hardest ones to get out. I replaced them with recessed hex heads.

[srsupertrap]

Here is my $.02.

Suggestion: Try heating the screws with a small propane torch to remove the thread lock. Then try the Impact Driver.

No sure about the Impact Driver direction? Verify the direction with the point of the #3 bit on a flat surface. Push down on the Impact driver and watch the direction of the #3 bit.

[trippivot]

Left hand direction drill bits may be in your near future.

[gunbunny119]

yes I was using the harbor freight $6 special. I'll try a craftsman next time...

I'm confused about the direction of rotation though. You guys say to twist the handle counter-clockwise until the tool expands to it's full length. My impact driver starts out at full length, when you twist the handle it compresses and becomes shorter. The bit turns opposite the handle, so wouldn't I want the handle to be able to turn clockwise?

.

I've been using a harbor freight special for over 5 years without issue, but I seem to be doing it opposite everyong else. Set the handle so when you preload it, the bit of the unit turns counter-clockwise. So yes, the handle would turn clockwise like everyone is advising. If you're unsure, push the driver down into your workbench and see which direction the bit wants to move-you want it move counter-clockwise. However, I don't let the handle rotate in my hand. I get a deathgrip on the handle toward the bottom, put the bit in the screw, turn slightly counter clockwise until I get the slack out of the bit and give it a good strong hit. In my experience, I prefer the bit to move, not the handle. I'm no PHd and maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years, but I've taken apart many a gummed up carb and it's always worked-no casualties. good luck.

[79-GS550-L]

OK, I was doing it right all along. It's just hard to explain this stuff with text sometimes. Anyways, I bought a new impact driver (Ampro) and it's much much larger than the crummy HF one. I managed to get 3 screws out, mangle 2 to the point of requiring the heads drilled off, and the last one has a pretty deformed head but there's still a little grip left in it. Tomorrow I'm trying an ez-out on the shafts stuck in the case. I'll try to post a picture a little later comparing the two drivers.

All will be replaced with recessed allen-heads! Thanks for the help everyone.

[themess]

The impact wrench can rotate either direction, depending on how you rotate it before whacking it with the hammer. Put some large wood screws in a 2x4, clamp it in a vise, and practice before you resume work on your motorcycle.

[renobruce]

All will be replaced with recessed allen-heads! Thanks for the help everyone.

\\/:-D

[psyguy]

great to hear you're getting ahead with your project

OK, I was doing it right all along. It's just hard to explain this stuff with text sometimes. Anyways, I bought a new impact driver (Ampro) and it's much much larger than the crummy HF one. I managed to get 3 screws out, mangle 2 to the point of requiring the heads drilled off, and the last one has a pretty deformed head but there's still a little grip left in it. Tomorrow I'm trying an ez-out on the shafts stuck in the case. I'll try to post a picture a little later comparing the two drivers.

All will be replaced with recessed allen-heads! Thanks for the help everyone.

[srsupertrap]

Warning: EZ Outs have a established nasty habit of breaking off in your broken bolt or screw at the exact moment you turn them.

Unsure of which engineer devised the steel formulation, but I along with others know from personal experience they are too brittle & hard for their intended application.

I suspect the EZ out material is a high carbon hypereutectoid steel, perhaps martensite or cemmentite.

[79-GS550-L]

Finally got all the bolts out. 3 had to be extracted with the ez-out. It worked like a charm. But when trying to get the bottom bolt out of one of my fork legs, the ez-out snapped off. Which I kinda thought it would, since it was a little too small for that bolt, but I was planning on replacing the forks anyways because of rust, so I'm not upset about that. But I sure am glad it didn't break off in my crankcase!

Now, off to split the cases...

[psyguy]

congrats! :-D