The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk fixing clutch head bolts/screws

So I was digging through my precious collection of clutch heads and all I had left of the size I needed was a couple of damaged ones.
I figured if I can fix a sandwich, I can fix a clutch head.
They typically form a burr from the wrong driver being used or from the proper driver camming out from it being frozen with rust.
I put them in my vice which I have made copper jaw inserts for, and tighten the bolt in place without damaging the threads.
I then used a body hammer to hit straight down on the head, working the burred metal back to where it belongs. I was surprised how well it worked. They now work just as well as undamaged ones.
Carl

Clever thinking.
Jeffrey

Ha ha, the best way to "fix" those stinking clutch head screws is to replace them with allen head screws!

I've seen too many of those get stripped out.
Jeffrey

Torx would be better, but clutch heads are iconic.

Allen heads don't strip out. You're probably thinking of Phillips head.

I have stripped all types of screw heads - using the wrong size/type driver/remover head, and/or when the screw is rusted, and/or when the head is deformed (veyy coomon with abused clutch head screws).

The clutch head screw is a superior design to a slotted head and/or a Phillips head.

See my comment in this old thread;

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...screws-bolts-replacement.html#Post949006

kent

Nice advice, Kent

The old ones are good....however I have found that some of the new repops that you buy are not "deep" enough to get a good bite....but we all know about repop stuff.

I bought SS rear fender clutch head bolts and they aren't the same size as the originals. In fact there isn't a clutch head bit/driver which fits them correctly. They do look nice though.

Carl, that's when you get inventive and create your own clutch head driver

I didn't need to in my case. The inside of my bed has bedliner on it which grabs the bolt head/washer allowing me to just tighten the nuts. I had an assortment of slot screwdrivers at the ready just in case.

While I've seen Clutch heads before and once had a Yankey screwdriver that had clutchhead tips. I changed mine out for Phillips head just so the next owner won't have to spend $35 on a driver and 4 sizes to remove 8 screws.

By far my favorite is a torx head.

Don

Spend the $20 and give the set as a gift to the new owner (put it in the glove box).