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Alternative to drilling out fittings |
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rb_stretch
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742 |
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Topic: Alternative to drilling out fittings Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 7:03pm |
Back to my Albacore again.
I've got a front bouyancy tank bung fitting that was fitted with steel fastenings which have rusted badly. I cannot tell if they are screws or not as there are no discernable grooves or markings. The problem is that I cannot get a drill to them because the base of the mast step is in the way, see photo. Anyone have any ideas as to what the fastenings may be and how I could get them out?
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 7:09pm |
I think I'd treat 'em with a phosphoric acid based rust treatment, leave them in and and hope for the best! The only alternative I can think of is to grind the tops off with a dremel, grind them to below gel coat level, fill, and put a new fitting in with the screw holes in a different place...
If you do decide to grind them off I strongly recommend putting the boat on her side while you do the work because the access is so much less torturous if you do. |
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kevg
Posting king Joined: 13 Dec 05 Location: Wrexham Online Status: Offline Posts: 120 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 7:21pm |
If you did need to drill the heads off could you use a right angled drill attachment?
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Jack Sparrow
Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2965 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 7:47pm |
Andymac
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 852 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 8:42pm |
I'd think about sacrificing the (softer) bung socket, carefully chisel/score through just to the side of the fastening. Once the bulk of the socket is removed from centre. you will just be left with the fastenings x 2 through little 'washers' of plastic. Place mole grips on remnant and unscrew.
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rb_stretch
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 9:04pm |
That's a good idea. There is an inspection hatch not too far away so if I can contort myself into the right position I'll try and feel what is actually behind, screw threads or otherwise.....
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JohnW
Really should get out more Joined: 17 Jul 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 552 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 9:35pm |
Almost certainly self tapping screws on a Speed Alb so Andymac's suggestion is the way to go.
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 13 at 10:04pm |
Just so long as there is room to manipulate the mole grips... I was assuming there wouldn't be... |
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rb_stretch
Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 13 at 5:28pm |
There's an unspoken rule in boating that any job will take 3 times longer than expected. Well today I went to the boat to investigate further and broke the rule. After a bit of prising with a screwdriver the whole lot came out.
Not only were the screws really badly corroded, but the hole for the plug and the holes for the screws were really oversized. Obviously a bodge job on all fronts, thankfully. Expect I will need a lot of sikaflex to hold a new one in. Here is the offending plug. The chip off the bottom screw came from me poking the rust with a screwdriver to see if I could uncover the head. I reckon mole grips would have destroyed them before getting them to turn. |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Jan 13 at 6:00pm |
That's a good result really. Did the screws come right out or are ends left in there? Clean all the rust off with Tcut or some other abrasive olish, fill the holes with filled epoxy and away you go:-) If the main hole is too big you could pad that with epoxy too:-)
Reckon those have to have been steel screws, very odd for stainless to go like that unless there's serious electrochemistry involved. |
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