Screw in front brake fluid reservior
 

So went to top up my front brake fluid, when the screw gave way before loosening. The screw was well screwed in and seemed to be soft.

Anyhows, now i have one damaged screw head. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

There are a few options - depends how bu99ered the screw head is? I've had most success with method (1) on this size of screw.

1) Use a hand (hammer) impact driver. Tap the bit in first, to get it seated nicely in the damaged screw head before using the impact driver. Don't whack it the impact driver too hard - one firm tap should be enough to get things going with a bit of luck. (A bit of fine valve grinding/lapping paste can help to get a screw driver/bit to grip better.)

2) Use an EZ-Out. Drill small hole in the centre of the screw, insert EZ-Out and wind in drawing the screw out. Not a ideal method though as its a very small screw and a very small EZ-Out and there is a knack to using them - they can break off themselves and then you've got a piece of hardened steel to drill through using method (3)!

3) If all else fails - Carefully use a bigger drill bit to take the head off the screw, making sure you get the dead centre of the screw, then remove the reservoir cover to expose enough thread to get some grips on.

There are probably many other ways too...

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. I will have a go.

With replacing the screws, Would b&q stock them.

Screw in front brake fluid reservior
 

They might, but they'll be iffy quality and even more likely to break or round off again!

There must be a specialist fastener retailer in your neck of the woods somewhere? That would be far better option, or even a Yamaha dealer - I doubt they'll be costly.

Ok cheers.

Hammering a smaller flat-head screwdriver into a cross head screw sometimes works.

Just an update to this. Ended up drilling the screw out. Tried all the other techniques but failed.

Found the replacement screws off ebay.

Thanks for the help. :)

A bit late for this but for others who this may happen to...


1. Use a small diameter drill bit and drill down into the centre of the screw a short distance.
2. Tap,with a hammer,the slighter larger size of a small diameter torx bit into said hole.
3. Then you'll be able to screw the screw out normally using a spanner on the torx head(usually 10mm?)

This will preserve the threads.

Before you do this find a replacement screw as the threads are quite fine.

When replacing use the method of 'steel into alloy' where as soon as they are nipped tight,you'll only need to tighten further by an eighth of a turn....leave it and walk away :)

Lots of riders over tighten these screws whilst forgetting that it's just a cover and nothing structural as it were.


:)




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