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Posted by: Garold Shaffer Jun 5 2008, 02:54 PM

Just got to vent.

As stupid as it sounds I can't get the cone screw out of the shift linkage of my parts car. The inside of the screw is rounded out and none of my hex keys will fit.

Going to pickup a set of easy outs and try that, otherwise I guess I will drill it out. This is a good side shift linkage and I don't want to mess it up.

Its amazing how some thing so simple can become such a PITA

Posted by: Demick Jun 5 2008, 03:14 PM

Do you have a set of torx bits? I've often found that if a hex is rounded out, that a torx of the right size can be hammered into the recess and get it out. Torx is 6 point, so just line up the points on the torx with where the hex points are and tap it in with a hammer.

Demick

Posted by: Bartlett 914 Jun 5 2008, 03:23 PM

Heat it with a propane torch. It may have been glued in place with Loctite. Heat will loosen the glue. Pretty warm is good enough I am guessing 250 to 300 should be enough.

Posted by: r_towle Jun 5 2008, 03:26 PM

drill it out, the easyout will break, its to small.
Use heat and pb blaster....
then left hand drill bit...get a super hard one, the screw is hardened steel.

If its sticking out a little bit, think about putting a nut on it (mine stick out a bit) and then weld the nut from the inside to the cone screw.
the combination of the drastic heat and a big nut to grab typically works well.

Rich

Posted by: Bartlett 914 Jun 5 2008, 04:32 PM

Drilling it out can be a problem. You don't want to damage the tapered hole in the shift rod by drilling too deep. If you drill too shallow. then removing the end piece will still be difficult and the remaining piece in the hole may not come out. Drilling is a last resort.

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 5 2008, 04:40 PM

Don't use an easy out. Place a washer over the stub of the cone screw, weld it to the screw, then weld a nut to the washer. You will get a better weld starting with the washer than you'll get if you go straight to the nut.

Posted by: vsg914 Jun 5 2008, 04:47 PM

Try what Demick suggested first. It has always worked for me.

Posted by: ejm Jun 5 2008, 05:39 PM

QUOTE(vsg914 @ Jun 5 2008, 06:47 PM)

Try what Demick suggested first. It has always worked for me.

And heat it first like Mark said. A heat gun will will work if a torch isn't handy.

Posted by: helios Jun 5 2008, 06:05 PM

I had the opposite problem with mine. Mine wouldn't get tight. The threads were all but stripped out of the coupler. I ended up drilling the hole larger, retapping, and modifying a larger bolt to seat in the taper. While I was at it, added a jam nut to relieve excess tension off the assembly while keeping the bolt locked in place. Good luck with the removal. Stripped bolts have to be one of the spawns of the devil.

Posted by: Garold Shaffer Jun 7 2008, 09:11 PM

Thanks guys, I will try your suggestions when we get back home. We are spending the weekend in St Germain Wisconsin fishing.

Posted by: bandjoey Jun 7 2008, 10:29 PM

PB Blaster!!!! [font=Arial Black] [size=5]

I just stripped my 914 to the tub, and the cone screws introduced me to PB Blaster. Use it on everything. Let it soak a while before trying to unscrew. It's a miracle worker!

Posted by: Jeff Hail Jun 8 2008, 02:07 AM

Put some valve grinding compound in the socket and stick the hex in and turn.

Posted by: sean_v8_914 Jun 8 2008, 02:26 AM

hey rich, I just used that trick on a stud about 3 hrs ago...cool

Posted by: sean_v8_914 Jun 8 2008, 02:27 AM

PS. Ive been eye balling that street sign

Posted by: EyeTrip Jun 8 2008, 02:40 AM

Harbor freight (even thought I don't like em) have rervers easy outs that might save the day. I would use heat and try the reverse easy out. IMHO.

Posted by: Joe Ricard Jun 8 2008, 06:25 AM

take the whole effin thing out of the car. disconnect it from the shifter and the remove the console from the trans.
easier to cus at on the work bench than under the car on jack stands.

Posted by: 736conver Jun 8 2008, 10:24 AM

on the torx bit

In fact I just used this trick on my go kart's bleeder screw.

Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Jun 8 2008, 11:21 AM

QUOTE(bandjoey @ Jun 7 2008, 09:29 PM)