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TIL a trick for those stubborn, recessed panel fasteners on a Cessna 172
Everyone says to just keep soaking them in penetrating oil for days, but last week I tried a tiny bit of heat from a soldering iron on the fastener head for about 30 seconds first, then the oil. Broke free immediately. Has anyone else found a better method for those specific screws?
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phoenix_carter6mo ago
Man, I feel that struggle deep in my soul lol. I've spent way too many afternoons fighting with those exact screws, just getting more and more frustrated. The soldering iron trick is a game changer for sure, saved my last weekend.
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loganl226mo ago
Nice. Heat breaks the corrosion seal better than oil alone. Good tip for the hangar.
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michaelchen5mo ago
The soldering iron trick works because those Cessna screws are usually just locked up with corrosion and dried out thread locker, not actual rust. I've had good results with a smaller butane torch set to a low flame too, just a few seconds of heat on the head before the oil. You gotta be careful not to melt any plastic nearby or cook the paint, but it makes a huge difference. Another thing that helped me was using a JIS screwdriver bit instead of a standard Phillips, those Japanese Industrial Standard bits bite way better into the cross pattern on those old fasteners. Pair that with the heat and a good penetrating oil like AeroKroil and you'll rarely strip one out.
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