Titan ReloadingWidenersLoad DataInline Fabrication
Lee PrecisionReloading EverythingRepackboxRotoMetals2
MidSouth Shooters Supply
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Thread: Who can remove broken sprue plate pivot screw?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    115

    Who can remove broken sprue plate pivot screw?

    It might be because it is old, but I had the sprue plate pivot screw snap on an old Yankee SC mold while casting the other day. The mold blocks are unitized like the original Ideals, and not separate like we are used to seeing them nowadays. Anyway, It snapped off flush with the hole and it's not moving. Please don't tell me it's a simple fix, "all you gotta do is...."
    I know my limitations in my old age; I've screwed up enough stuff and I'll let somebody else do this the right way.
    Now, the question is: who do I send this thing to?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master dh2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Ft.Bragg,NC
    Posts
    707
    can you post or send a pic of it.?

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    115
    I can't post a picture, but could send one. To you?

  4. #4
    Banned
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,725
    Quote Originally Posted by Krag1902 View Post
    It might be because it is old, but I had the sprue plate pivot screw snap on an old Yankee SC mold while casting the other day. The mold blocks are unitized like the original Ideals, and not separate like we are used to seeing them nowadays. Anyway, It snapped off flush with the hole and it's not moving. Please don't tell me it's a simple fix, "all you gotta do is...."
    I know my limitations in my old age; I've screwed up enough stuff and I'll let somebody else do this the right way.
    Now, the question is: who do I send this thing to?
    If you have a local auto mechanic who you trust, they could remove it for you with an easy out. As long as they are careful and have done broken screw/bolt removal before there should not be a problem for them. It would save you shipping.

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    England,Ar
    Posts
    7,687
    If you know any mechanics you might talk with them. Any machine shop could do it and a small one might be reasonable on the cost.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,454
    Its not usually a real bad job to do. unless there is a lot of rust and or corrosion. most job shops ( small machine shops), mechanics, ( last choice would be auto zone or those type stores but they do offer some services) and one of the better that's normally free or materials only cost is the local trade school. Stop in and talk to them. Even though they are students the instructor is well trained and they want to do a good job. Check with the colleges giving apprenticeship courses here.

    If you don't want to attempt it your self then the best thing to do is every morning put a drop of kroil or penetrating oil on the screw to soak in and loosen any crud corrosion or build ups. The time doing this is well spent as a few days here can really ease removal.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    127
    This guy:

    http://www.hollowpointmold.com/

    does mold repairs.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    2,705
    Don't know what kind of tools/skills you have available, but to remove a broken mold screw first remove the set screw holding the broken screw. Soak the mold overnight in Kroil Oil as it will penetrate around the screw and dissolve rust. Use a sharp punch to put a dimple in the center of the broken screw for starting the drill. Drill a hole in the center of the screw, best done with a cobalt drill & drill press. Hopefully the easy out will get enough bite to remove the screw.

    Problem is sending the mold to a repair shop, the cost will probably exceed the value of the mold, since used SC molds don't usually fetch a high price. What part of the country do you live in?

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    115
    I'm in Nebraska. I suppose I'll get it out eventually. It's an old Yankee mold (bronze) for the Squibb bullet and I'd hate to screw it up. There are a great many alternative to that, I suppose.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master hc18flyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    NE Nebraska
    Posts
    1,179
    Ace Hardware will have an 'easy out. Take your time, and make sure you 'center' your drill bit. If the stub is broken at an angle, you could flatten it with a file or Dremel, before center punching it. I would soak it in some penetrating oil after you have it drilled and the set screw is out too. hc18flyer

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    woodbutcher's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    LaFollette Tn
    Posts
    1,398
    Just a little hint here.Get a set of LEFT HAND drill bits.Sometimes,just the heat from drilling will let the broken screw back out with the rotation of the bit.
    Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
    Leo
    People never lie so much as after a hunt,during a war,or before an election.
    Otto von Bismarck

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    brisbane ,qld,australia
    Posts
    2,125
    Bronze expands a lot more than steel,so after drilling,heat mold before twisting screw....Another bit of very good advice...........Use Ridgid brand splined ezy outs.........they wont shatter in the hole like el cheapo ones.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,454
    At work we removed a lot of broken screws and bolts with just a hammer and small prick punch. put a prick on the edge and then tap in the direction to turn it to remove. Removed a lot like this. from 8s up to 1/2" sometimes a small chisel will cut a slot and then used tike a screw driver removes it. drilling isn't always necessary since once broken and the head gone there is little to no force holding the thread.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master Drm50's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    SE Ohio
    Posts
    2,361
    Heat the mold up good, put Kroil or PB blaster to it. Several times will help over period of couple
    days. Don't attempt to drill with a hand held drill. Needs clamped in drill press vice. Once center
    is located and punched use a small bit for pilot hole. Then drill with biggest bit you can without
    endangering threads. At this point heat again and use the penetrating oil. The tapered easy outs
    are the best. You have to remember the easy out is wedging its way in to get a bite. Use a small
    handle on easy out so you can feel what's going on. It seems like a lot of trouble but if you get in
    a hurry you will ruin the threads. That leaves you to redrill and tap to a bigger screw. Main thing
    is don't get in a hurry.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
    bullet maker 57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Hudson Valley New York
    Posts
    745
    Hollow point Mold Service took care of an old mold with a broken screw. Turn around was less than a week. Not to costly IIRC.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    115
    Well....that was easier than I thought. I let the screw soak for a couple of days in a drop of WD-40, took a small punch and threw up a burr on the busted screw, gave it a tap to the left and it started straightaway. Now I have to find a replacement screw: they're ( the Yankee) not the same thread as the Lyman.
    Thanks, all!

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northwest Ohio
    Posts
    14,454
    Most times the prick punch and small hammer does the trick. The soak in penetrating oil loosens it up frees any crud. the light tapping gives the vibration and force to walk it out once up 1/8" or so pliers can be used to walk it the rest of the way out. Its the head of the bolt that tightens the thread ( unless the thread is bottomed out or a interference fit) and when the bolt breaks the tension is released with the head gone. Leaving a thread that's fairly easy to remove. In reality a dull prick punch works better for this also.

  18. #18
    Moderator
    RogerDat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Michigan Lansing Area
    Posts
    5,751
    Glad it worked out. Have done the punch and tap removal before also. Beats the snot out of collapsing the bolt into a hole drilled in the middle of it.

    If an EZ out bottoms out in the hole you drill it will almost certainly snap. Takes about 1 heart beat to happen. Dremel with a cut off wheel to cut a slot for a screw driver can work well. Especially after some WD40 or Kroil or other break free rust busting lubricants. Heat and quench at bolt with those penetrating oils can help too. The lubricant "follows" the heat in along the bolt or nut threads as the lubricant is applied and reduces the surface temperature.
    Scrap.... because all the really pithy and emphatic four letter words were taken and we had to describe this source of casting material somehow so we added an "S" to what non casters and wives call what we collect.

    Kind of hard to claim to love America while one is hating half the Americans that disagree with you. One nation indivisible requires work.

    Feedback page http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...light=RogerDat

  19. #19
    Boolit Master OldBearHair's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Conroe TEXAS
    Posts
    671
    I usually forget about such things, but.....like a bolt out of the blue, it hit me. On a thread (Cast Boolits.com)that I came across lately, there it was ..... a test of penetrating oils , kroil, WD40, Goof off, several other store bought ones, and a home made one of 1/2 Acetone and 1/2 Transmission Fluid, and guess which one won? The home made one.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master OldBearHair's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Conroe TEXAS
    Posts
    671
    Like all these good posts with information for removing broken screws. Like letting the penetrating oil chase the heat on the threads and cooling threads at the same time.. Yeah. Worked on Convair 240s in Harlingen Texas, 1959. Salty conditions caused screws to be hard to remove. I learned to use a small size speed handle and to place the screwdriver tip in the 10/32 countersunk screw and rock it back and forth lightly and transition to more torque. Lots of screws would "break as you tightened the screw, then would come out easily . Some screws would not budge, then use the prick punch and hammer. Sometimes the rivet gun set at 4 on a ten dial with a square headed 90 degree Phillips #3 tip and give it a pretty good 3 second hit while turning the tool worked. Congratulations Krag 1902 getting that screw out. Makes one feel a little better, huh.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check