B$%^dy screws - any ideas?

[phil]

Just set about replacing the burrs on my Rocky so that I can go back to drinking vac pot coffee as well as espresso.

Why do people use slotted screws? (<Sigh>)

OK I'm having real trouble removing one of the 3 screws holding down the bottom burr. The screw won't turn and if I try much more I'm just going to destroy the screw head

Short of applying a little bit of local heat with a soldering iron or something, anyone got any ideas about removing this blighter?

Also - the top burr carrier is just a big brass casting, essentially cylindrical in shape. I don't want to stick it in a vice for fear of distorting it. Any other ideas about how I can steady it to remove and replace the upper burr?

This (can you tell?) is not proving as easy as I would have hoped. I dunno what it is with the Italians and slotted screws. I'd have figured them as having more sense.

Footnote - I have the same problem with the slotted screw holding the shower screens in place on my Gaggia TD 2. This has kept me from replacing the gaskets for a while now although I would say that in fact they need it. Grrrr.....

[HughF]

WD40 spray? Penetrating and Easing fluid? (Then a lot of flushing through to remove the smell.) Try a local hardware store and see what they suggest.

Cheers,

Hugh

[Ian]

There are few methods you could try. Is there room to get a cranked screwdriver in? (It's been a while since I've seen inside a Rocky)

Some cordless screwdriver bits have a square drive that you can use with a socket set.

You could try heating the burr carrier but not too much, maybe using something like a hair dryer or hot air gun turned down low - you don't want to melt any plastic.

Actually, it's just occurred to me, have you removed the bottom burr carrier or is it still in situ?

[phil]

The bottom burr carrier is still in situ. Do you think I should remove it first prior to trying to shift the screws holding the burr in place?

[Ian]

It might be easier to get a grip on it, I wouldn't recommend putting them in a vice though. If you get stuck, you could always send them to me for treatment.

[phil]

OK - thanks for that. I'll see what happens. Cheers

[Joey]

As Hugh I would also have suggested the WD40 - good stuff!
As stupid as it sounds - sometimes it helps to trun the screw a bit in the other direction first - as if you want to screw it on - and then into the right direction to open it.
My last thing I do if nothing works I take a hammer and try to knock the screwdriver deeper to get a better grip for turning it. >accompanied by mumbling chants of curses<
Very last option - a drill and a new screw

joey

[moccafaux]

Stick a big screwdriver into the chute, thus immobilising the lower carrier.
Take a screwdriver which fits the screws slot EXACTLY. Maybe you have to grind one down, then make sure it has sharp edges. Take one who has a hexnut integrated into the shaft.
Buy 100%ige Essigsäure and apply a few drops between screw and carrier. This stuff eats away everything corrosion-related and leaves clean metal. Just like maggots eating dead flesh and leaving a wound clean.
Stick the screwdriver in perfectly vertical and give it a sharp blow with a hammer.
Press the screwdriver into the slot with both hands and have someone else put a spanner on the nut.
All these things combined should do it.

[Sunnyfield]

How about buying a Mazzer Mini instead?

[phil]

Hi Sunny - good to see you.

Wouldn't both a Mazzer Mini and a La Spaziale Lusso be a bit greedy, don't you think?

[Steve]

Since when has greed been a problem ? (hottop, two Group in the kitchen french press's to open a shop and how many vac pots?)

[phil]

Ouch! that's not nice

[Steve]

Whats up the truth hurting I'm just

[Sunnyfield]

Have I been away for that long... Hottop for sale in Europe, Phil has a La Spaziale Lusso... I better really catch up soon!

[Gouezeri]

Without wanting to rub it in... including getting out my tools etc. it took 15mins...
A touch of cafiza just to loosen things up a bit, then out came the drill (no messing about!) and a left handed drill bit (ie. it turns the wrong way) after that it was just a matter of going gently and eventually the screws freed themselves without even drilling the head off. That said, I can see why Phil was having problems and there was little chance of these screws surviving being removed, they were stuck hard! Right, just got to get some replacement screws now
I'll follow this saga up in SimonP's thread, once I've fitted the burrs and seen how well they work.
Dom