Stripped set screw

[pflumitch]

I have a 3mm set screw with a 1.5mm hex head that stripped out holding in my driveshaft. I don't know what kind of thread lock was used by the factory but its a bit too much (tougher than red loctite). Just was wondering what people have done in the past to remedy the problem. Drill it out and tap it for a larger one? Thanks for your suggestions...

[LtDoc]

Drilling and re-tapping is probably the most common answer. If the threads themselves are not 'boogered' up too much you could always just replace the original setscrew. If it happens more than three times... just weld the @#$ thing! (very, very small tip! - lol)
- 'Doc

[Kmot]

Boy, that's a really small grub screw. And if it is holding a coupler onto a shaft, you do not have much room to drill without going into the shaft itself.

Here is what I have done on some similar situations. First, find the next size allen wrench that fits into the stripped grub screw. You might have to try an American size one. Try to find onw that sorta fits, then tap it down into the screw to make it tight. Next, apply heat to the fitting the grub screw is in. That will soften the Loctite, and when you get it fairly warm, try to loosen it.

If that fails, you can get a cutoff wheel for your Dremel and cut a slot into the top of the grub scrwe, and then use a blade type screwdriver to back it out. This might damage the coupling that the grub screw is in, so you may have to buy another.

If that fails, then use the cutoff wheel to split the coupler right down the middle, and then use a screwdriver to split it apart. Sometimes you have to sacrifice parts to get them off.

[smart_racer]

It is probably in a tight location, what I sometimes do is soak the set screw, motor shaft, (no plastic) in lacquer thinner, it will dissolve the thread lock and not hurt the metal

[green-boat]

First I would try getting a brand new Allen wrench. The LHS have some that the car guys use by Dynamite with a red handle. They are a good quality hardened type. Yes I know that the regular black oxide coated ones are hardened but these are better. I had stuck metric set and tried regular wrenches and stripped every one. Tried the one from the LHS and the screw came right out.

The other solution would be to get a carbide burr from your dentist, the part that does the drilling into your teeth. Chuck it up in your Dremel and drill/ grind out the set screw. Regular drill bits will dull trying to drill out the screw.