Those little screws in dist cap stuck. Please advise.. | FerrariChat
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Those little screws in dist cap stuck. Please advise..

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by climb, Dec 16, 2015.

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  1. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    Stuart K. Hicks
    #1 climb, Dec 16, 2015
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2015
    So I took off my distributor caps on the 308 (twin Marelli) and two of the screws that push the contact pin into the distributor wire won't turn. Two lead wires have come undone from the pin and I need to push them through again. I've put PB blaster on both sides but they won't break free. I'd hate to pay the $400 or whatever ungodly amount it cost for a new cap just for the screws being stuck or stripped. Any recommendations? thanks..
     
  2. brian.s

    brian.s F1 Rookie
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    #2 brian.s, Dec 16, 2015
    I use a very good fitting blade with a long shaft, you can apply pressure whilst torqueing the screw, normally they will move.
     
  3. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #3 climb, Dec 16, 2015
    Thanks for the reply. I'm not able to find a long shaft driver with such a small blade. Have to look..
     
  4. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 mwr4440, Dec 16, 2015
    Try tightening ..... THEN Loosening.

    Counter intuitive but it oftimes works.
     
  5. finnerty

    finnerty F1 World Champ

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    #5 finnerty, Dec 16, 2015
    If they are corroded, soak them in white table vinegar over night. It is a mild acid and will dissolve the base pH oxidation / corrosion that accumulates on brass (and copper).
     
  6. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #6 climb, Dec 16, 2015
    Thanks but I'm afraid it's too late. I got a longer ratchet type screw driver and it seemed to fit snug. Pushed and torqued but ended up stripping them. Soaked with PB blaster one day, WD-40's new penetrating supposed bold loosening spray and bike chain lube too. I put the wires in just a few years ago and they moved freely at the time. All the others still do. Damn..
     
  7. Mark 328

    Mark 328 Formula Junior

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    #7 Mark 328, Dec 17, 2015
    A few taps with a hammer on a strong, good fitting screw driver (on the screw head) can work wonders. The tapping will also help refit the screw driver into the screw head.
    If the wires are going to be replaced you may want to try removing the wire (Dremel)and working a little from the other side... sometimes just taking the pressure-off can facilitate removal of a stubborn fastener. Good Luck.
     
  8. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
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    #8 tatcat, Dec 17, 2015
    heat
    too bad they're stripped but if you can still get a little bite try a little heat
     
  9. Ak Jim

    Ak Jim F1 Veteran
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    #9 Ak Jim, Dec 17, 2015
    I used a bench grinder on a screwdriver to make the screwdriver fit.
     
  10. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #10 climb, Dec 17, 2015
    I'll try it with a heat gun I guess. Torch would melt the plastic. Hate to have to buy a repo when I have a perfectly good original. If it gets to that then so be it. It's and odd psychological feeling not knowing your Ferrari can't start. First time in 9 years.
     
  11. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Karting

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    #11 Kenny94945, Dec 18, 2015
    Well FWIW.
    Seems like those screws are now fairly worked over from attempted removal.

    Before it gets worse...can you remove and get the assembly on a bench? Would that be easier for access?

    Keep soaking with BP Blaster (maybe vinegar too) (don't use WD or chain lube) over a few days before you try again.
    Use a dremel tool and cut a slot so a straight edge screw driver will fit.
    Yes, try a little heat..I've seem CO2 cartridge size burners. Maybe the heat gun you suggested. Can you make some heat shields to protect the plastic from melting?
    Yes, hit the screws using the screw driver with a hammer to shock them.

    If that doesn't work you could lastly try chiseling the screw head, in the slot you dremeled, in the off direction.

    If all fails, I don't know if an EZ out tool and or drill and retap is possible.

    Good luck wished.
     
  12. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #12 climb, Dec 18, 2015
    Thanks for the suggestions. I got a long screwrdriver that fits snug too. I don't know why they wont give up the ghost. All the others turn easily with just those little sunglass screw drivers twisting between two fingers. Access with dremel would be tough as the little brass ring surrounds the screws.. Major lesson in if it ain't broke don't fix it, especially if it's Italian..;-)
     
  13. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #13 climb, Jan 5, 2016
    Wow. Finally took it all the way out and discovered the two stuck screws weren't screwed through the ignition wires at all. This is why they rusted. That's the good news as it may be why my car had a warm weather misfire. Bad news is even with and overnight bath in apple cider vinegar the screws won't budge. At this point I'm just happy for the possible discovery of the misfire. I'll get a new one and hope for the best.

    Thanks for the responses. :)
     
  14. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 BigTex, Jan 5, 2016
    That is so important when setting them in the cap.
    My recent repair had a basically new set of wires on the floor..

    They did not even read continuity thru them, no idea what the previous Tech used....
     
  15. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #15 climb, Jan 5, 2016
    Yeah, I mean some contact was being made because I used a timing light on each wire but I'm sure spark was leaking or arching or whatever too. Got nobody to blame but myself as I put the wires in myself a few years ago. They were never even pierced by the screw. I simply pushed them in and forgot to back them out and back to screw into them. I was flaky in my young age just as I am in my old..
     
  16. jimmyr

    jimmyr Formula Junior

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    #16 jimmyr, Jan 5, 2016
    Since there was no actual contact between the screw and the wire some arcing may have built up carbon or welded them in the cap. In that case all the solvents would not help. Carefully drill out the screw, and re-tap the cap.
     
  17. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #17 climb, Jan 5, 2016
    Welded sounds correct. Interesting.
     
  18. Jeff Pintler

    Jeff Pintler Formula Junior

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    #18 Jeff Pintler, Jan 9, 2016
    Yep, sometimes those screws can be a bit*h. So there are a few things to try. Find a blade screwdriver that exactly fills up the full width and length of the slot by checking one of the non stripped screw heads. I have had good luck with Whia brand. then take something very sharp and re-cut the slot in the soft brass of the head, maybe the tip of an Xacto blade.
    Almost like a wood chisel, try to pry the tip and scoop out the bottom edges of the slot. Then cut the wire off and dig out the wire and insulation. You should able to apply some thread penetrant and let the magic happen. I have had good luck with Kroil Oil. If you are feeling really desperate, try to reach in with the tip of a soldering iron and heat just the brass tip of the screw, the heat may travel down to the threads. Then mix up a paste of comet cleaner that will improve the bite of the screwdriver to the slot. if that doesn't work: pull out one of the other screws to get the minor diameter of the screw. You could carefully drill out the stripped screw and the use a pick to remove the threads. Problem with that is you won't be able to find a replacement screw. Good Luck!


    Jeff Pintler
    89 348tb, 86tr, 99 360 3-pedal, S-160 Bobcat
     
  19. climb

    climb F1 Rookie

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    #19 climb, Jan 11, 2016
    Very good suggestions everyone. I pulled the trigger on a repro one. Will keep ideas in mind for future problems should they arise.

    :)
     

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