Stripped/Stuck Gamebit Screws in Turbo Duo

[Knowlery]

Okay folks, I've fought with this system off an on for the last few months and I'm out of ideas. I have a US Turbo Duo that I just need to open up to do the common sound fix capacitor replacement that all Duo's end up needing...but I can't get the thing open!

Specifically, the two screws at the back corners of the Duo (the ones near the AC Adaptor input panel and CD tray) will not come out...and I fear that I've stripped them trying to strong arm them out of there. The other three screws came out no problem with the couple of different 4.5mm gamebit screwdrivers that I have (one is from NEX, the other is an eBay no namer special), but now I think those have also been stripped trying to get these out.

Besides trying to use the right tools, I've also tried to use the melted pen method to form around the screws, which did nothing. I've also tried to heat up the screws with my soldering iron and use the screwdriver and some needle nose pliers to get them loose.

Does anybody have any other suggestions that could help me get these awful things out? Now that I just got some new Super CD imports I'm even more desperate to try about anything to get this open and going again like it should.

[Marspants]

Same thing happened to me but I realized that I actually stripped the gamebit. If your gamebits are fine really the only way I'd try to do it is with the pliers

[Ziggy]

Sounds like you need a screw extractor.

http://homerepair.about.com/od/interior ... ractor.htm

From the link:

The threads are designed to screw BACKWARD or counter-clockwise into the screw or bolt after a pilot hole has first been drilled. They are tapered so that the extractor digs into the damaged screw deeper and tighter and the extractor is turned. So while you're turning the extractor counter clockwise, it's digging into the damaged screw more and more and turns the damaged screw counter-clockwise which of course loosens and removes (extracts) the damaged screw.

[Gnashvar]

Sounds like you need a screw extractor.

http://homerepair.about.com/od/interior ... ractor.htm

From the link:

The threads are designed to screw BACKWARD or counter-clockwise into the screw or bolt after a pilot hole has first been drilled. They are tapered so that the extractor digs into the damaged screw deeper and tighter and the extractor is turned. So while you're turning the extractor counter clockwise, it's digging into the damaged screw more and more and turns the damaged screw counter-clockwise which of course loosens and removes (extracts) the damaged screw.

You have to be really careful of how you drill to not damage the plastic since the screw is so small. I thought drilling into it would damage the plastic but I understand how spinning the other way keeps it from doing that.

[joehero]

Another option would be to drill the head of the screws off with a drill bit. You would have to be really careful and go slow. Once the heads are off you should be able to open it. Then use needle nose pliers and unscrew them. Obviously you will need to purchase new screws to put it back together. Bottom line is, any method you use at this point is going to be a risk. Good luck.

[Ziggy]

I would just go with a screw extractor. Any local hardware store should have them, and auto parts stores should have them too. Just get a really small sized one and you should be fine. Worst case scenario, you break the plastic around the screw. This isn't likely to happen if you use the right size extractor, and take your time. But if it does happen, it's not that big of a deal. First off, ONE missing screw is hardly gonna keep the console from being held together. And it's nothing that isn't repairable anyways. But like I said, not likely to happen as long as you use the right size and take your time doing it. It's a pretty simple and straight forward procedure.

[CRTGAMER]

Get a COBALT bit, usually once the head is chewed up, its just easier to lop it off.

Match the bit to one of the removed screws. Get a bigger diameter then the threads and smaller then the head. Be careful to drill just enough to cut the head only, you don't want to eat the plastic. You know you got it when the cutoff head spins in the drill bit. You can put a piece of masking tape on the drill bit to determine how deep to drill.

Once the cover is removed, a simple matter of removing the remaining stud with pliers.

[Knowlery]

Wow, thanks everyone. I truly appreciate all of the help, and I think I'm going to end up just getting both a screw extractor set and the cobalt bit, as both sound like pretty safe options; plus they'd just sound nice to have around for later projects.

I'll swing by a place like Home Depot or Lowe's tomorrow to see what they have there before I try and order these online...I'd love to get the Duo back to normal this week!

[Ziggy]

Let us know how it works out!