Seized scope mount screws

John T.

John T.

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Peace River area of Alberta
Anyone have any tricks for removing seized allen-head screws from my scope bases?
They are the originals that came with my Leopold dovetail bases, so I assume they will withstand 'some' torque before failing, but I don't want to find out what that point looks like! :bangHead:
They have been installed for 25 years, but rifle has never seen abusive treatment, so threads shouldn't be rusty.?
I have been applying more torque than I thought it should take, so I am taking a step back before I twist them off, or deform the heads.
I have not applied heat, yet.
 
Often very old threads, clean and dry just lock together and the Allan head strips out real easy... Use a screwdriver with a bit in it, while applying some force tap on the handle with a hammer lightly... keep doing it... it works the majority of the time for me.

If a head strips then use a drill the same size as the head and drill in until the head pops off...
 
Spray with Liquid Wrench and let soak for 1/2 hour. Use a soldering gun and put some heat on the head of the screw. Loosen with an Allen wrench.
 
Try some heat and see if that will work. I have used a small soldering iron holding the tip right on the screw head for a minute or so and it was enough to loosen up the screw so I could get it moving. Worth a try.
 
Use a penetrating oil, let it sit for a bit, then use Guntech's method of applying pressure and tapping with a hammer at the same time. Should work like a charm.
 
Bic lighter hold gun down side up and apply flame tip to screw head for about 3 seconds turn over and try the wrench or screwdriver again before it cools.
 
I somehow snookered myself installing a scope and bases on a new to me rifle. I messed up something simple and needed to remove the scope and bases again. Try as I might I could NOT get the scope ring screws to let go. (I had over torqued the screws by accident) I broke at least 3 different types of drivers (torx) and even a quality warrantied one that they took back and said this was a first for them.

Finally out of desperation I took a pair of vise grips, decided to write off the scope rings, and clamped them down HARD on one side. With the tension off the ring the screws just backed right out. Once you get one side loose the other side is easy. The rings both have some very minor damage which surprised me.

Maybe this might help?
Dave
 
Thanx for all the ideas.
I have been soaking the screws with WD40 hoping it would help (kind of like sticking your tongue in the corner of your mouth while working on something difficult :) ).
I think I will add some heat just in case I Loctited them originally (it was 25 years ago....I don't recall :rolleyes:), and then try tapping them while under torque, like 'guntech' suggested. I know the heat and impact helps on seized truck parts, so.......
Unfortunately, I really didn't need to mess around in the first place. It's been fine for long distance target shooting for 20 years, but I figured I should install reverse mounts to slide the scope rearward after surgery on my shoulder.
Old enough to know better!
 
Success!
I belted back a shot of Gibsons to calm m'nerves, then heated the screw heads with a micro torch; gave some commanding taps of my hammer on the end of the driver as I applied torque, and the first one released quite smoothly! The second one followed right along!
My wife rooled her eyes to the emotional outpouring not shown scince the birth of our children, and walked away.
I celebrated with another couple pulls of Gibsons!
Thanx for the tips; lesson learned!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom