OK, it's nothing fancy, but it's driving me crazy.
The hex head screw which attaches the backpad bar to the underside of my Corbin seat is stripped and rusted. I need to remove this screw to remove the pad and bar from the seat. The screw runs through a steel bar about 3/4" x 3/4" x 4" that is welded to the base plate (see 2nd pic side view). I've tried to get a grip on it with various pliers (vise grip, linesmans, etc.) but can't even come close to getting a grip on the small rounded head. I obviously don't want todo something very forceful and possiblydamage the pan of the seat. I also have the same problem with the screw that attaches the backpad to the bar (3rd pic down) with very limited room to even try and work. That screw is very secondary, though. I'd greatly appreciate any advice on this. If a propane torch is necessary, I have one ready, but need to know the proper way to use it for this issue. Thanks.

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Follow these steps and it should (emphasis on "should"?) work out fine:

-Apply WD-40 to the parts in question. I wouldn't go in there spraying up the place...use a small brush to apply it....hit the threads and anything that's contacting the bolt. Repeat this every few hours for at least a full day.....yes, seriously.

-Tap the top of the bolt with a hammer. When I say "tap" I mean hit it hard but not enough to deform the bolt.

-Get a Dremel and carefully grind a slot into the width of the head of the screw. I'd go as deep as the bottom of the hex but no further.

-If you can, apply light heat to the head but be careful because the 40 is flammable. This is critical as you don't wanna light your seat on fire......or maybe you do, I dunno. Give the first application of heat enough time to travel down the bolt and apply light heat again.

-Tap the bolt again as described above.

-Grab your largest flat head screwdriver and try to get the bolt to turn in any direction. If it moves then keep working at it. If it doesn't appear to move beyond a certain point, apply the 40 again and wait a few hours. It might help to tap the screwdriver as you're turning it.




That's the best I got without actually being there.

 

Roger, you don't need a propane torch. Mark the centre of the hex head,punch an indentation using a sharp punch or other object, and using a good quality drill, smaller than the bolt size, drill downwards into the bolt from the head side, until you go right through. Next, use some penetrating oil like Q20, RTF or whatever is available in your area, spray the bolt and leave to stand for a few minutes.
There is a tool called an "E Z out", which looks a little like a drill bit, available at most hardware stores, which has a LEFT HAND THREAD, and which will fit into the hole in the screw/bolt you are trying to remove. Screw it into the head of the bolt, and using suitable grips like vicegrips, rotate the ezout and your bolt should come out. Same procedure for the Alan head bolt.
If that doesn't work, grind the head off the bolt with a small angle grinder, flat file or whatever, and again mark the centre of the shaft of the screw/bolt. Use a drill same size as screw/bolt, drill the whole thing out. You can always retap the hole with a new bolt, slightly bigger. Also, using Alan head bolts in stainless steel is by far the best option if you think it'll rust again.
That's what I would do, I'm sure others have different opinions.......let us know how it went...

 

bergs has it right, however, I would be impatient and just cut the slot with the dremel and grab a screw driver. The bolt doesnt even look big. It should move easy.

 

Thank you very much, Bergs and Shadow. I have a high speed Dremel which I've always felt very comfortable with, so I'm going to try slotting the head first as Bergs recommended, and try working out the bolt with a flat head screwdriveror impact driver. Thanks again for the greatdetailedhelp guys. I'll report back soon.

 

Follow-up....following bergs' advice,and using a 15/16" cutting wheel on my dremel and cutting a not very pretty slot on the bolt head, I was able to work the bolt out with just a slotted screwdriver.

I guess no job too small for the Hurricane forum... hehehe!

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Roger, Thanks for the follow-up. Sometimes the threads deadend without a follow-up and there is notelling of what works and what does't.