All my points screws are stuck! Need advice..

Hey all,

So my points are pitted and need replacing. But the PO has stripped all the screws necessary to adjust/remove the points ( PSA: Buy JIS screwdrivers! ) I went to remove the screws to remove the whole assembly and they are totally seized. I figured I'll have to drill them out. But I just realized i could also just drill out the screws for the points and just replace those-- $12 vs $60.

What do you guys think? Do I stand to damage anything trying to drill out the points screws??

Here's how it looks:

Have you tried a hammer operated impact driver? I've found that carefully using one will drive the bit into the buggered up screw just enough to get the traction needed to loosen them then finish removing with a screwdriver or pliers.

You might be able to break them loose with a fluted extractor socket-trick is finding the right size. Sears sells a small kit with 1/4 drive shank.

Maybe a dremel tool with a cutting disk to cut or re-cut standard screw driver slots? If you try that you may want to mask things off to control the grit and or have someone hold a vacuum close by as you cut.

The screw heads look rather tall with flat sides in your picture. Can you get a small vice grip pliers on them. You might try that first.

I used a dremel tool to make flat sides on two sides and broke it loose with a wrench. If you can find a wrench small enough for those.

Remove the whole point mounting plate from the motorcycle. Lay plate on work bench and saturate screws with mix of Acetone/Trans Fluid. Should be able to break loose screws with downward pressure of screw driver. Had the same problem with mine and this method worked great.

Don't drill anything. Simply soak the screws for 2 or 3 days with Kroil and they will come out without a problem. No kidding! See link below, and below that is the picture of the product I use. It works! Ed

www.kanolabs.com/penLub.html

Vise grips. Done.

What ed said. Kroil or PB blaster will loosen them up.

These are all good suggestions-- thanks everyone!!

I will try some PB blaster maybe some Kroil. If that doesn't do it, I'll work my up to dremel/drilling the screws.

Might go buy an impact driver as well-- cause any excuse is a good excuse to buy a new tool!

Thanks!

BOY!!! Do I know these screws, LOL! take a good close look at your screwdriver tip...It might just be the pics, but it looks to me like a nice appropriately sized, flat bottomed, (not "knife edged") sharp cornered straight blade would STILL back those rascals out....It is DEFINITELY easier to mess with all the point's little nuts/bolts/washers/insulators/, &c....on the bench!!!

TexasKZ wrote: Have you tried a hammer operated impact driver? I've found that carefully using one will drive the bit into the buggered up screw just enough to get the traction needed to loosen them then finish removing with a screwdriver or pliers.

+1 same thing here.