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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:47 am

All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:50 am

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?
Buy a new car !!!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:58 am

oscar;1223389 wrote: Buy a new car !!!

Because my license plate screws are rusted ?

Is this your top shelf advice or can you do better ?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:00 am

Nomad;1223395 wrote: Because my license plate screws are rusted ?

Is this your top shelf advice or can you do better ? Yep, top shelf advice.

OR....... don't let your screws get wet in the first place.

Steal another car.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:01 am

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

Yes

I could tell you but it'll cost you............

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:13 am

So your talking about the entire license plate bracket correct? Not just the front plate screws correct? I need details if I'm going to weight in on this project Nomie..

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:35 am

CARLA;1223406 wrote: So your talking about the entire license plate bracket correct? Not just the front plate screws correct? I need details if I'm going to weight in on this project Nomie..

Hi muka. The plate and bracket are off the car. The screws themselves are broken perhaps 1/2' inside the plate screw threaded holes. Im about to embark on another adventure sure to end with me crying and throwing wrenches or possibly burning the house down. Neighbors will hear expletives coming from inside the garage that will cause them to hurry the kids in and lock their doors.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:42 am

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?
That might qualify your car as a clunker. If so, you can get $4500 for trade-in.

An alternative would be to use double sided tape to stick the new plate on the old one.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:45 am

Accountable;1223433 wrote: That might qualify your car as a clunker. If so, you can get $4500 for trade-in.

An alternative would be to use double sided tape to stick the new plate on the old one.

No the screws must come out even if it means I end up in jail for for causing a disturbance.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:04 am

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

No. What's the metal the things are threaded into? If you can heat it up (No! Not the whole car!) with oxy-acetylene or some small gas torch that might help. You probably won't be able to get them out, especially now that there's a nice piece of hardened steel "Grab It" stuck in. Spark erosion will work if you've got someone who will do it. Perhaps you can drill out the whole thing and re-tap the hole. Other things to try are getting at the far side of the metal, annointing with acid for a day or three (before removal!), drilling a small hole to remove a section of the bolt and thread....

What do these screws screw into? Sheet metal? Cast iron? Alloy?

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:20 am

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?

perhaps you should have replaced the screws years ago.:sneaky:

men just don't know how to take care of their cars!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:25 am

Bill Sikes;1223442 wrote: No. What's the metal the things are threaded into? If you can heat it up (No! Not the whole car!) with oxy-acetylene or some small gas torch that might help. You probably won't be able to get them out, especially now that there's a nice piece of hardened steel "Grab It" stuck in. Spark erosion will work if you've got someone who will do it. Perhaps you can drill out the whole thing and re-tap the hole. Other things to try are getting at the far side of the metal, annointing with acid for a day or three (before removal!), drilling a small hole to remove a section of the bolt and thread....

What do these screws screw into? Sheet metal? Cast iron? Alloy?

Holy Moly !

What do they screw into...well......a little hole. I dunno. I couldnt drill through the broken screws. I used 2 sided tape but it wont stay. I can tell.

So i should torch the car ?

Ok.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:35 am

Sparks, torches, around the car not a good idea Nomie. Take it to a shop they can push those bolts out in a second. Might require a bigger hole then you want on your bumper but it will be gone.

Then have the bumper patched and install one all over again. It never ends does it.. :wah:

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:35 pm

Nomad;1223465 wrote: So i should torch the car ?

Ok.

Maybe. Yo' got 'surance?

If it's just screwed onto your bumper, you may be able to punch the screws through, but it doesn't sound as though thy are (unless they're screwed into something solid on the other side, or they've got nuts on the other side). Hey! Photo the thing & post it somewhere!

You could always tie onanother number plate with binder twine, and say "Oooh arrr!" to people...

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:17 pm

More information required.

Align the holes in licence plate and slightly offset, and re-drill new holes, then fix with self tapping screws to suit holes drilled

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:55 pm

Nomad;1223387 wrote: All 4 of the screws that attach my license plate to my car rusted and broke off inside the threaded holes when I tried to remove them.

I purchased Grab It which is supposed to bite into the screws after pre-drilling then pounding the device into the screws and reverse them out but the bit broke.

I bought another and will try again but is there a tribal dance or magic words I should use before my efforts at failure for the 2nd time ?
Peter Lake has told me to tell you to use penetrating oil and to leave for a day to soak in

Failing that buy velcro that you buy in car accessory shops.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:36 am

Nomad;1223429 wrote: throwing wenches .

don't they object to such rough treatment??

theDC · Post by **theDC** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:33 pm

Happened to me before too. I hate when screws get stripped :-5

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:10 pm

Imladris;1223752 wrote:

don't they object to such rough treatment??
:wah:

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:19 pm

*!^*#!!^* reply:

Here's what you need, Nomie.

Remote Hide-Away License Plate

Or this:

I know you like gadgets.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:31 am

Well - have you fixed it?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:07 am

Bill Sikes;1223952 wrote: Well - have you fixed it?

Im going to have to pay. One day though I will successfully repair something on my own car.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:45 am

Nomad;1223976 wrote: Im going to have to pay.

(gloom) Everybody has to pay.

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