Help advice on power tools
 

Our Yesteryear cart has hinge hemorage, screws that obviously installed by POWER TOOLS operated by a gorilla, yipsters. While I tried to Uninstall, one of screws broke, more yipsters. Suggestions please from TOTV do-it-yourselfers.

There is a tool kit called an "EZ Out" which can be used for broken screws. Amazon carries them under several names. Just google "EZ Out" and they pop right up.

They work, but they're not quite so "EZ" as the ads make them sound.

I agree. They are called screw extractors. You can also buy a single extractor at Home Depot if you know the correct size. You drill a hole into the screw head and then use a hammer to tap the extractor into the hole. Then, you use pliers or a wrench to manually unscrew the screw.

What’s on the back side? Fiberglass panel can be tricky. easy out may work if screw head still there? If the head broken off and you can’t get to back side with screw shank sticking out you will have to drill it out. That small screw will be real pain.

Just a moment...

Don’t know how structure in panel hear some examples boaters use?

You can Google for more ideas?

I have these tools to remove screws as well a LEFT twist drills, send me a PM if you are interested, I am located south of 466a, and you would need to bring the cart here so i would have access to all of my tools.

Let's establish a few things.

Your hinge broke, because your hinge is made of cheap zinc that's chrome plated.

Here is how you remove it: securely grip the broken hinge with vice grips. Use a quality impact driver to remove the screw. That's it!

The advice on ez-outs was given by, well, idiots. This screw is not frozen in a steel engine block, not rusted by exposure to sea water, not secured in brittle cast aluminum. No, it's in fiberglass with some sort of soft metal stiffener. LH drills are also overkill.

I'm not a tool meister, just a silly lady taking on a project that is way way above my pay grade or knowledge, just thought I would get advice from those of you who have encountered this dilemma, would normally pass this on to my better half but his disability makes this difficult now.

Preparation H does have its limits, I guess...

another "idiot" here. You can buy the EZ out kit for less than 10 bucks on amazon. Might be overkill but its simple and cheap.

Better yet, take up The Tinkers offer. He has the tools and it would just be a golf cart ride for you.

Thank you all, appreciate your help!

Villagetinker, you are exactly one of the reasons they advertise The Villages as being "America's Friendliest Home Town". Helping one another is what we should be doing, but it's a rarity these days.

Apply Heat
 

You will never get an "E-Z Out" into a little cabinet screw. Your best hope is to remove the other screws and hope that enough of the broken screw remains above the surface that it can be caught by a vice grips pliers. If you can't get the screw out, you'll have to move the hinge just enough to cover the broken screw.

It will be much easier to remove the remaining screws if you can apply some heat to them first . I would use a "mini-butane torch" which puts out a pinpoint flame. Put duct tape around the edge of the hinge to protect the finish of the cabinet and focus the flame on one screw at a time, first touching the screw head then removing the flame to let the heat "sink"into the shaft of the screw, and repeat.

With the door being fiberglass, this is going to be tricky.

The final thing is to use the largest screwdriver which will fit the screw.

///

DeWalt!!

I 2nd the motion to talk with the tinker. Free help is hard to pass up. Best wishes for you and your husband.

You are a good man…

It takes a quality tool to do a quality job!
Your cart was assembled with quality tools and was attempted to be taken apart by non quality tools! There's a reason technicians use them, it saves the customers money in the long run. Just remember fiberglass and paint have low burn points! Before you go drilling wildly be careful!

Love your description of the POWER TOOL operator. Don’t know why they use power tools to run a tiny screw in! I guess they were in a hurry & wanted to make sure it wouldn’t vibrate out.

Toymeiter has very direct way of putting things. :)

Screws were probably locked in with liquid glue. IMO the hardware should of been countersunk screw with fiber-nut and washer on back. That way can easily be replaced. But with no panel covering makes ugly appearance on inside?

It’s still very tricky being so close to edges of panels.

All, I have actually done this onanother street cart. I have both steel and aluminum inserts if necessary as well as backing plates. So once i get my hands on the door I will see what needs to be done. I like all of the suggestions.

Tinker
 

Tinker is a true gentleman. We need more like him. If all else fails, take it to Villages Golf Carts.

You have to love someone who refers to people who are trying to be helpful as "idiots".

Wow. Just when you think you've seen it all.

Are actually two types of screw extractors. One is square and you drill a hole and tap it in and turn out the screw with a wrench. The other you drill a hole and it is reverse threaded so it tightens as you twist it with a wrench to remove the screw. Frankly either works better with larger screws than these seem to be. A broke screw, typically the screw breaks jut below the head. I would tap a starting spot and drill out the screw. Getting out the screw is only part of the problem. Finding a matching hinge,
may be bigger problem.

I too am stubborn. I think the poster said golden oldies. They made it perhaps let them fix it. This seems like on of those simple projects that turns into a disaster. Damaged paint-cracked fiberglass etc.

Another vote for David "Tinker". Easy fix for him...
:bigbow::welcome::bigbow:

I do not do marriage counseling. Night before I got married my dad long gone now passed on family wisdom. I think it came from my great great, perhaps one more great grandfather. You will never understand your wife. If, you do, first of all it will quickly change so not only are you wrong it is your fault..

You could be right!

Villagetinker you are the best
 

How can I thank you enough. So kind of you to give up your morning to help us with our golf cart doors. We need more David's in the world. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!

To all that offered advice on this repair. It was interesting, 3 screws had the phillips head stripped. 2 screws had the phillips head actually break off the screw body. 2 screws were in so tight I had to cut the hinges off to get a grip on the screws to remove. One actually came out easily. Eventually I was able to remove all but the 2 screws that broke. These had to be drilled out. All of these screws were stainless steel, which required Cobalt bits, oil and lots of time drill out. In the end I was able to get all the screws out (8), the owner provided new stainless steel screws and i was able to install the new hinges, all in all a productive morning.

Villagetinker did a fantastic job, very professional, door to Yesteryear cart never fit that well ever. So so thankful for his kindness.. By the way, he has a real cool Mustang that he put together with 20 boxes of parts. This guy is a genius that also is a mechanical engineer. Thanks David.