A must-have tool for old bikes:

[makenzie71]

In searching various things I see a lot of the same commentary on stripped phillips head screws...and stripped/chipped screws in general. An impact driver is your friend, fellows.



Don't attempt to "break" those screws loose by the twist of a hand. When it comes to screws decades old that have likely never been turned after installation, always break them with an impact driver. It will save your screws, and it will save a portion of your sanity.

$6 at harbor freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37530

[80GS750]

i second that motion....


i dont have one yet, but i will have one soon.... these are invaluable

[Killer2600]

I have one, it's broken though...cheap crap

[makenzie71]

if you don't want it to break spend some money on a Craftsman (free replacement) or buy a snap-on or something. I buy the cheap ones because spending $12 a year is acceptable to me (actually the last one I bought has lasted since 2002).

[flyingace]

IMO, expensive or cheap, impact drivers are of limited value. If the metal is too soft to turn the stuck screw, it will strip regardless of what you use on it. Of the dozen or so phillips screws I've removed, only one came out with the Craftsman impact driver.

Drill, extract and replace them right away. Save yourself the grief.

[Dogma]

IMO, expensive or cheap, impact drivers are of limited value. If the metal is too soft to turn the stuck screw, it will strip regardless of what you use on it. Of the dozen or so phillips screws I've removed, only one came out with the Craftsman impact driver.

Drill, extract and replace them right away. Save yourself the grief.

I'm for replacement of weak-headed screws, but the impact driver is worth a try. I've had success with my $6 HF deal on a few dozen stuck screws (though the bits that came with it were too brittle).

[earlfor]

Those phillips screws on the GS are Japanese phillips which are not the same configuration as standard phillips. If you are stripping screw heads, it is because you are using the wrong bits. No impact driver I know of comes with the correct phillips bits for our use. Use the right tool and life gets easier. LOL

Earl

[Texatl]

I'm a big time proponent of an Impact Tool. But forget Harbor Freight- spend a buck or two extra and get one from Sears. Craftsman quality and warranty (although, you will never need the warranty- the tool is completely awesome)

[makenzie71]

...I've broken a crafstman. Higher quality, but not bullet-proof.

[mighty13d]

I've stripped a few with the impact driver. at least mine were in places where I could lock a large vice grips on them and start them that way. A small bolt out works good but if you don't give it a little extra incentive to start the screw (ie. tapping it on a little with a small hammer, screwdriver handle, etc) it can just spin off the outside of it. I know this because it really upset me the other day when that happened to me. Screw outs would be nice, but I didn't have any on hand.

I really think that HE-MAN tightened all of the bolts/screws on my bike. The manual suggests one thing to torque this stuff down, but I have to use 4x that force to get that stuff off, if not more! damn bolts that have been in place longer than I've been alive!!! lmao

[TheCafeKid]

Ive yet to strip a screw with an impact driver. I HAVE stripped pleanty assuming that *I* with my mighty muscles, could MAKE them come out without breaking out the impact driver. Heh. Lesson learned. Impact driver is a third arm for me now However, I have broken many a tip on those darn things. Damn cheap ones. Maybe i should break down and buy a good one :P

[mighty13d]

I think my problem was that I was twisting over on the impact driver a little too far and not allowing the bit to go fully into place before smacking it with my 2lb sledge... (it was the closest hammer to me at the time) After I started making sure that I didn't twist it too far over, it works great!

[earlfor]

I'm a big time proponent of an Impact Tool. But forget Harbor Freight- spend a buck or two extra and get one from Sears. Craftsman quality and warranty (although, you will never need the warranty- the tool is completely awesome)

I have a craftsman impact thats about 20 years old. It still works
as well as it did the day I bought it. heh

Earl

[Nessism]

I've bought lots of stuff from Harbor Freight but would also recommend something more sturdy in terms of an impact driver.

In terms of the tool themselves, I've never stripped a screw using one unless the head was chewed up already. The common bits supplied with the tool bite just fine into Japanese phillips head screws - never had a problem.

[justmount1]

i actually got one off ebay that is a little more durable than the one from harbor frieght for $12