Armor removal and armor screws

[Wayne Henderson]

Hi Gina,
Same problem here with the Staghound turret, the front plate has 1"
countersunk screws with locknuts on the inside.
I made an 1 1/8" Screwdriver out of an old leaf spring because I couldn't find a big long driver to fit. Then I made a bar to fit horizontal to the screw driver to control the twist. CRC, heat and swearing also help.
Two person job to undo each bolt.
Wayne

[Andrew Rowe]

Another cunning trick is to mig a reasonable size tack on each side of a hex nut, then use a standard socket while it is still warm. You have to relinish the top of the screw when finished , but at least you achieve the job. Just make sure the tack welds don't cover the slot area of the screw.

[Mrs Vampire]

OK thanks for the great tips...will organize a bit of leaf spring and a Mig and give it a go....

Wayne any recommendations most effective words re the swearing.... ???

[Lynn Eades]

I'm guessing its a spur of the moment personal inspiration thing.

[Wayne Henderson]

I find it is best to start alpabetically, screws come out around words begining with c or d.

[motto (RIP)]

What I ended up doing with the White M3A1 armour screws was to split the nuts with a chisel. Saves time and angst. No damage to the screw heads and nuts are not expensive or difficult to get. Any damage to the thread on the screw can be easily fixed by running them through a die.

David

[Mrs Vampire]

Hi Motto

Most the rear nuts are captive...the others way way back inside the engine compartment .

If I can get the rear armor off then maybe I can reach in and split the nuts on the top deck...its a good suggestion.

Hey Andy ...you are right I can make one of those....what a great gadget!!!

as to the swearing...I was looking to vocabulary extension....

[Robin Craig]

Just a word about slot screw heads and modern screw driver type tools.

The tips on modern screwdrivers are tapered and the old type screwdrivers used by armourers have parralel tips.

The difference is that the tapered screwdrivers will naturally try and climb out of the slot head, that is why they round off and are so hated. An armourer type friend taught me this.

My 2 penny worth

R