Gear Selector set screw stripped

[md11flyer]

Hello:
I am in the process of installing the R & J instrument panel into my pa-30. Everything has gone smooth so
far up till I tried to remove the set screw from the gear "wheel" mounted on the gear selector switch.

I strong armed the allen key as it was really "set" and rounded off the corners of the set screw.
Does anybody have any suggestions short of drilling out the set screw?

Thanks,

Gary

[John Wedge]

I would try to find an "easy out" to put in it to screw it out but I do not know if they are made that small. No drilling involved to mess up any threads.
John

[md11flyer]

Thanks John,
I thought of that as well but the smallest I have is 1/8 inch...much to big.
I don't think they make them any smaller.

I also tried a metric size, slightly larger allen key and a drop of crazy glue gel... and wishful thinking!
It felt like it might work, but after trying both ways to unfreeze it the try was unsuccessful.

Time to take a fine drill to it and see what happens..

Gary

[9089P]

If you are going the drill route, maybe a you can find a left hand twist drill bit of the correct size? Essentially an extractor.

Good luck, Don

[md11flyer]

Success!

I noticed when I shone a light into the hole that the set screw was not stripped at all. It was the allen key that stripped.
I tryed a new allan key and the results were the same.....stripped the edges off the key...after applying a key bending force.
Went to a tool supply house and asked about a super allen key... just hoping they might exist...and
lo and behold they do. After applying what seemed like impossible force to such a small set screw, the screw let loose!
Cleaned the threads of old locktite residue and its good as new.
The sales person said this was not the first time someone needed the extra tempered steel
allen key.
Apparently some people use permanent locktite on these set screws so they won't back out.
He recommended the semi permanent locktite as the screw will come back out later, with out the required strenght of Atlas.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

Gary