Help! O rings job gone wrong...

Evenin' all,
I thought that the time was right to tackle the O rings replacement. It's been leaking a bit more since using the heater recently. Followed all the useful guides (esp. thanks to Stufer) and got into it. Even cut the duct to get max access. But the screwhead is knackered and I've tried every philips screwdriver I've got, plus bits in sockets and anything else that I thought might shift it. What with the messing about its dripping even more now and I can't move it either way, loosen or tighten, and the cross in the head is becoming rounded off. I've given up for tonight, but any advice on what I could try tomorrow would be appreciated. I'm not sure I can even get a drill in to drill it out ...

Looks like you are going to have to take the dash out

Some have had success using a cutting paste or valve paste to enhance grip and to try and prevent the bit slipping in the head....worth a shot!

As you've given up for the night the last job you should be doing is spraying some release penetrate stuff goo on it before you go in for tea.

doz said:

As you've given up for the night the last job you should be doing is spraying some release penetrate stuff goo on it before you go in for tea.

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Thanks Doz, Yeah I did that...

First of all soak in penitrating fluid leave to soak .
Then with just an 3:8 extention bar spend at least 15 minutes tapping the head the tapping action can break any antifreeze that has gumned up the threads . Try to tighten as well as loosen you can find that doing up has a slightly better grip than trying to undo it other wise its dash out as you can't possibly get any grip on the screw head otherwise!

Ah well, thanks for your help. I suppose it was too much to hope for a magic fix... I'll have another go at it in the morning, perhaps the penetrating oil will have freed it up a bit. I'll try tapping it some more, then put some valve paste in the screw head and try again. Thanks again - I'm off for a drink or two and try not to think about having to take the dash out...

plumbfisher said:

Ah well, thanks for your help. I suppose it was too much to hope for a magic fix... I'll have another go at it in the morning, perhaps the penetrating oil will have freed it up a bit. I'll try tapping it some more, then put some valve paste in the screw head and try again. Thanks again - I'm off for a drink or two and try not to think about having to take the dash out...

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If so its not so bad just bloody time consuming go get ****ed

had exactly the same problem so I took the dash out for better access, I used this guide. Not too bad but I took it slow to avoid breaking anything. I wouldn't be surprised if someone had previously used Loctite on mine.

O Rings Part 2

plumbfisher said:

Ah well, thanks for your help. I suppose it was too much to hope for a magic fix... I'll have another go at it in the morning, perhaps the penetrating oil will have freed it up a bit. I'll try tapping it some more, then put some valve paste in the screw head and try again. Thanks again - I'm off for a drink or two and try not to think about having to take the dash out...

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You can try holding a preheated large Phillips screwdriver on the screw, hopefully the heat transfer may help

I had to drill the head off the screw but be very careful if you use this method as one slip or to much heat transfer to the plastic will cut or melt it and then you really up the creak slow and steady with several breaks will get the job done got it all done in 7hrs and thats dash out and dash back in when you put it all back together you are best to get a allen head bolt/screw

I had the same problem and bought a screw extractor kit. Managed to use it without removing the dash too.