Sheared-off screw in playfield.

[Jeff Sabat]

I have a STNG and the left-most Time Warp target has sheared the head off of
the screw mounting it to the playfield. Anyone have any suggestions on how
to secure the bracket since the screw hole is now plugged with the old
screw?

Thanks for any help,

sa...@mgfairfax.rr.com

[Starwriter]

Very carefully, and precisely measure to the center of the broken screw,
from other screw locations, holes, etc, that go all the way through the
playfield. Then map out the exact location of the broken screw on the
bottom of the playfield. Then carefully drill the bottom of the playfield
to the tip of the broken screw. Small variable speed drill is definately a
plus. If you miss and drill all the way through, or break off the bit, that
would be a bad thing. Then use a small punch to drive the broken screw down
out the bottom of the playfield. Then drill the hole bigger, and install a
T nut.

[jems...@triplet.net]

I don't know how big of a screw you are talking about or how deep it is
broken off but...

If the metal is above the play field you may be able to simply cut an x in
the top of the screw with a dremel and get it out with a phillips head, or
square off the head and get it out with a vise grips. I figure you would
have thought of this though.

You can also try to find a small screw extractor. They seem to cost more
the smaller they get. The screw extractor will sometimes damage the screw
hole (especially as they get smaller). You can find really small ones at
large hobby stores that sell model aircraft engines (sometimes). If the
screw hole is damaged consider putting an insert or a blind nut in its place
and use a bolt instead of a screw.

Jeff Sabat <sa...@mgfairfax.rr.com> wrote in message
news:ftXG3.1480$fo4....@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...

> I have a STNG and the left-most Time Warp target has sheared the head off
of
> the screw mounting it to the playfield. Anyone have any suggestions on
how
> to secure the bracket since the screw hole is now plugged with the old
> screw?
>

[Jonathan N. Deitch]

In article <ftXG3.1480$fo4....@typhoon.southeast.rr.com>,
"Jeff Sabat" <sa...@mgfairfax.rr.com> writes:

> I have a STNG and the left-most Time Warp target has sheared the head off of
> the screw mounting it to the playfield. Anyone have any suggestions on how
> to secure the bracket since the screw hole is now plugged with the old
> screw?

These screws go into the playfield from underneath, so drilling it out
from up above is pretty much out of the question ...

Which leaves about the only other way : use a Dremel to cut a slot in the
top of the sheared off screw and unscrew it with a flat blade screwdriver.

- Jonathan

SPAM filter engaged - remove spam munge when you reply !
--
jde...@litz.spamsucks.org | Go Braves !!! | "I hate it when I can't trust
| Play Pinball !! | my own technology!" - LaForge
http://www.litz.org |------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------' "Thrills! Chills! Magic! Prizes!" - Hurricane

Roddenberry, Asimov, Henson, Dr. Seuss, Mel Blanc, Friz Freleng ... Sigh ...

[Starwriter]

> > I have a STNG and the left-most Time Warp target has sheared the head
off of
> > the screw mounting it to the playfield. Anyone have any suggestions on
how
> > to secure the bracket since the screw hole is now plugged with the old
> > screw?
>
> These screws go into the playfield from underneath, so drilling it out
> from up above is pretty much out of the question ...
>
> Which leaves about the only other way : use a Dremel to cut a slot in the
> top of the sheared off screw and unscrew it with a flat blade
screwdriver.

Doh! Guess I should have paid more attention to the word TARGET. Guess you
could also carve away a little bit of the wood around the screw, and grab
the screw with a pair of needle nose vice grips. These things work great
for grabbing onto little things very tightly.