The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 41 windshield Broken regulator screw

Hi,
In our 41 half ton short bed project, I have one screw broken off in the windsheild frame, where the regulator arm bolts to the lower windsheild. Anybody have any good ideas how to repair it? See photo, its the right screw on the bracket shown

Lee

Lee:

It can be done, but is complicated by the fact that the bolt bottoms out in the frame; and it’s a fine thread deal which seems to make it worse.

First, this is an important part of the truck and an expensive one to boot. I would remove the windshield assembly from the truck and rest it securely on padded saw horses. Next, soak the thing for a day or so with a good penetrant/ like Gibbs.

Next, file or carefully grind the remaining bolt section so it is flat. Center punch it very carefully. Get a GOOD set of reverse drill bits. Start with a small one and work up. Mark them with tape so you don’t get into the frame. If you’re lucky, it will give up and come out with the drill bit. Heat is your friend here. But the proximity to glass means no torch!

If it doesn’t come out, you need a blind end tap, so you can cut new threads.

Good luck.

Another option, once a small center hole is established, is to use a very small diameter diamond dust burr in a Dremel tool, and carefully remove the screw stub a little at a time out to the minor diameter of the thread. Then use a bottoming tap with the same diameter and pitch as the other screw to restore the original threads.
Jerry

You could take other two screws out and separate the frame from the bracket, and maybe spray in down like he said and grab on to the remaining screw and gently move it back and forth over time it may come loose. The screws in those old truck were much tougher than today's hardware, I have been surprised many times.

thanks all, I will let you know how it goes. I just needed the sanity check before pulling the windsheild. Luckily, the nose is still off from engine install, so that will help get the windsheild out safely . Two hinges with two screws each at top of windshield.

Lee

Once you get the bracket off, hopefully there will be enough of the screw protruding above the frame to grab with a small pair of vise grips. If so, use plenty of penetrating oil, and gently work the stub back and forth- - - -don't try to muscle it out.

www.KANOLABS.COM

Jerry

I use PB Blaster.. Is Kroil better?
Lee

I would say yes.

Bracket is off! windsheild came out easily. In will be more challenging, but later on that. Soaking now with PB. Its what I have.
Lee

It looks like there is still one screw with a head. Will it come out? If so, remove it and put some PB in the hole and tilt the frame enough to let the PB get to the underside of the broken bolt. My experience has been you cannot use too much penetrating oil.
I agree with Jerry [quoteOnce you get the bracket off, hopefully there will be enough of the screw protruding above the frame to grab with a small pair of vise grips. If so, use plenty of penetrating oil, and gently work the stub back and forth- - - -don't try to muscle it out.
][/quote]
Good luck
Harold

No, I am just trying to replace the two broken ones. I'm soaking now.

Oil did not help. Reverse drill bits did not help. I had to drill them out, pick them out and retap. But its in and working. Used cut off 10/24 screws in frame to align easily with hinges. Then installed 2 screws, removed the studs and put the other 2 screws in