VE Problems

[CValiquette]

Hey guys. I was talking to a fellow 1st-genner today and he was asking if I had ever heard of the full power screw being stripped and if there is any way to fix it. He said it runs fine but I myself would be worried about it. He then informed me that he can't get the screws off the housing to get to the diaphragm and fuel pin. Tried penetrating oil and all kinds of stuff and tried a screwdriver with pliers but they won't budge. Sounds like previous owner went a little nutso on the VE and got in over his head. Any ideas?

 

[tkerrigan]

I used to use an impactodriver on those screws. They tighten by themselves.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I finally replaced my screws with metric bolts. They're a lot easier to get off for "adjustments".



Bob

 

[glhs]

Needle nose vise grips?

If he had the philips head screws, maybe a grinder to shave them off or cut a new slot into them for a large flat screwdriver.

 

[Jet Tech]

My favorite screw removal technique is to put a HIGH QUALITY screw driver tip in an adapter or socket and fit it on to a speed handle. You can get plenty of force holding the tip into the screw as well as plenty of torque. There are tips with slight serations across them to prevent "cam-out" (the tip rising up out of the screw under torque). Also, another great aid is some Screw Grab or a similar product on the tip itself. If you can't locate any specific removal compound, valve grinding compound works great. Lastly, for a great penetrating oil the aviation industry relies on Aero Kroil (KanoLabs.com). Good Luck

 

[CValiquette]

Thanks guys. I gave him your advice today. We'll see how he does. Not sure why I didn't think of the impact driver and socket. I've done it dozens of times on other parts.

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

If it's a '92-'93 it should have o/d, which means it has a TPS, which means that 3 of those 4 screws are allen head screws already. Why they didn't make all of them as such is beyond me.....



The last screw on mine thats a flat head I always have to take off with a vice grip, without fail, anytime I work on the thing. It tightens itself, as mentioned. If you get it off, replace it with an allen head. I keep telling myself to do this yet I never do.



As far as the stripped max fuel screw... man, that doesn't sound so good. I wonder if he (or someone before him) tried to turn that screw without taking the collar off. That would strip the screw most likely... . which could then strip the hole... Hmm... . I would think this could turn into massive fuel leaks. If it stripped the screw I'd replace the screw. If the hole is stripped..... try a helicoil? I don't know if that would work for that particular application. There might not be enough for it to grab on to with the thin walls of the pump casting.

 

[CValiquette]

If it's a '92-'93 it should have o/d, which means it has a TPS, which means that 3 of those 4 screws are allen head screws already. Why they didn't make all of them as such is beyond me.....



The last screw on mine thats a flat head I always have to take off with a vice grip, without fail, anytime I work on the thing. It tightens itself, as mentioned. If you get it off, replace it with an allen head. I keep telling myself to do this yet I never do.



As far as the stripped max fuel screw... man, that doesn't sound so good. I wonder if he (or someone before him) tried to turn that screw without taking the collar off. That would strip the screw most likely... . which could then strip the hole... Hmm... . I would think this could turn into massive fuel leaks. If it stripped the screw I'd replace the screw. If the hole is stripped..... try a helicoil? I don't know if that would work for that particular application. There might not be enough for it to grab on to with the thin walls of the pump casting.

Yeah it kinda shocked me when I heard about the fuel screw. He said he hadn't touched it before he found out about it. I did find a part number for the screw that comes on the rebuilt pumps with no collar. Waiting to hear from him after he figures out if it's the housing or the screw... I hope it's the screw. It's only $16. 50 or something like that. "Only"... guess that is a lot for a friggin screw.

 

[PToombs]

I wonder if somebody tightened it down so the shoulder for the o-ring got into the sealing area in the hole? If you don't know about it, you can torque the screw in too far and mess things up bad.