Crosshead screw on transponder won't turn

[Wolfie1959]

Anybody got any tips as how to remove a (very small) screw from the transponder of my remote, to enable me to change the Battery.  One screw came out perfectly, but the other has no grip on the crosshead - I think the garage who installed the last Battery has completely 'mashed' it and now there's nothing to grip against to turn it.  I have tried dripping a very small amount of WD40 in the area so as to make the screw less tight, but there literally is nothing I can get any purchase on to remove the screw.  Any tips out there, please?

[PCM]

A Swiss Army knife blade end? 

[NemesisUK]

Very carefully file a new slot across the head?

Perhaps glue a small nut to the head?

[Hillie]

This may help,  5 different solutions found on on the iFixit Channel

1. Different Screwdriver
2. Rubber Band
3. Screw Extracting Pliers
4. Superglue
5. Rotary Tool

 

 

[Bluemarlin]

Sometimes a torx head screwdriver will work on a worn screw head.

Failing that tip some baking powder into the screw head, insert your screwdriver and add a drop of superglue. The whole thing should set hard enough for you to turn the screw.

[Herbie]

Put a rubber band over the screw head and try again, it usually works about 95% of the time on small stuff like that.

If that doesn't work, drill it out and replace with either a bigger screw or a set screw and nut.

[Wolfie1959]

3 hours ago, NemesisUK said:

Very carefully file a new slot across the head?

Perhaps glue a small nut to the head?

Thanks NemesisUK, the screw is miniscule, there is simply no room to file a slot and I'm worried the superglue would get stuck to the surrounds and end up breaking that.

[Wolfie1959]

3 hours ago, Hillie said:

This may help,  5 different solutions found on on the iFixit Channel

1. Different Screwdriver
2. Rubber Band
3. Screw Extracting Pliers
4. Superglue
5. Rotary Tool

 

 

Thanks Hillie, some great tips there.  Rubber band doesn't work.  The screw thread hole is so small that the right size screwdriver just pierces through the band.

[Barry14UK]

Isolate screw head and use mixture of baking powder and super glue to attach very small nut. Use magneto spanner or similar to wind out or alternatively bond small crosshead screwdriver to wind out.  Another method would be to carefully drill very small hole so you can start 'Easy Out' extractor if you have a small enough one.

By the way, WD 40 is not a release  agent and I wouldn't advocate a penetrating oil in this situation anyway. 

[Hillie]

2 hours ago, Wolfie1959 said:

Thanks Hillie, some great tips there.  Rubber band doesn't work.  The screw thread hole is so small that the right size screwdriver just pierces through the band.

2 hours ago, Wolfie1959 said:

Thanks NemesisUK, the screw is miniscule, there is simply no room to file a slot and I'm worried the superglue would get stuck to the surrounds and end up breaking that.

I am also a big fan of the Super Glue trick mentioned by @NemesisUK  Check this YT video. 

 

[Wolfie1959]

On 1/1/2023 at 6:16 PM, Hillie said:

I am also a big fan of the Super Glue trick mentioned by @NemesisUK  Check this YT video. 

 

Thank you Hillie and Nemesis, I'll give this a go and report back.

 

[Wolfie1959]

Thanks for all your help everyone.  Had to resort to drilling it out in the end.  What a faff!