Stripped fin clamp hex screws

[jhughes]

Went to adjust the fin on my wife's ski, which has not been moved in probably a decade. Sure enough, 2 out of 3 of the 5/32" hex screws were frozen and totally stripped out.

Two questions:

1. Removal: Drill them out? Anything easier?

2. Sourcing: is this something I can grab from Ace Hardware?

[Horton]

@jhughes I would just get a new fin clamp. I have had some luck with stripped or frozen screws but most of the time it is not worth the trouble.

[jhughes]

To prevent this is anyone using anti-seize or something like that? 

[buoyboy1]

I use Locktite LB 8060 Silver Grade Anti-Seize Part 37230 and it works well.

[BobF]

I put anti-seize on every hex screw in a fin block, since I had one seize up a few years ago.  Dissimilar metals.

Agree with Horton that it's not worth drilling out.  By the time you drill out the SS, the aluminum will need to be tapped for an oversize screw.  The only reason I did it was to recover the fin blade.

[JackQ]

I skied in saltwater for years.  Anti seize help in fresh and salt but is not a panacea.  I drilled out the holes/treads and installed stainless steel “timesert”. Never had issue after, before even with anti seize if I didnt take out the screws every three week they would break off. 

You can drill out the broken screws and put in time serts or helicoils (not as good) It can be done without a drill press but not easily. 

Edited August 4, 2023 by JackQ

[BraceMaker]

Put the fin box in a bench vice tap a torqs bit into the Allen then wiggle it back and forth the tapping in usually breaks the threads free

[thager]

Soak it a while in some CLR to dissolve the calcium.

[skibrain]

Name the brand.  I bet there are 3 dozen ballers who have an extra clamp. I’ve got one from a 2008 D3 that’s yours for a few bucks shipping. 

[jhughes]

This is for the now-classic 2015 "blue vapor".

[Horton]

@jhughes any Radar or HO fin block will fit that ski.

[Stevie Boy]

I have used Helicoil kit before now, also have drilled and tapped one size up,

Performance sell the complete fin block/fin/wing 

https://perfski.com/products/radar-2023-pro-comp-adj-fin?_pos=4&_sid=c054b7198&_ss=r

[skialex]

Depending on what tools you carry and previous experience, seized screws extraction can be relatively easy without harming the fin clamp.If a screw is seized, try not to force it out. It will either brake or the Allen head will be destroyed. Then it becomes a an issue.

So I f you have a seized screw or more than one, or all of them… remove the fin clamp, put in on a Vice and use a blow torch to heat up the metal. Be patient, at some point the screw will turn and without a lot of force. I’m this case if you clean all the residues and put everything back together, it will be good as new.

If you have already broke or damaged the head… then you are going to need a very good and precise bench press and a good cobalt drill bit, (I use a M4 drill bit). And a precision Vice. 
I usually drill off the screw without harming the threads. And only need to run a 10-32 tap to clean the threads, and put a new screw in.

if the threads are gone, you can always use a Helicoil insert or timesert… you don’t need to size up. Also helicoil and time serts are good for repairing striped threads on some not that durable clamps.

anyway, I wouldn’t throw away a good  fin box because of a seized screw, but I wish when friends are bringing me one to fix that they wouldn’t have tried to apply to much force to the point the screw is damaged or broken..

I’m the picture is a removed screw that came out without harming the aluminum’s treads

 

[Horton]

https://radarskis.com/products/pro-comp-adjustable-fin-system

[skialex]

1 hour ago, Horton said:

https://radarskis.com/products/pro-comp-adjustable-fin-system

Or this… 😊