I have an 1885 with a 3x9 scope mounted but am having trouble focusing on the scope now that I have gone to trifocals. I have a set of Williams iron sights to install but for the life of me I cannot get the star drive screws to loosen up. I put so much torque on it I was worried the tool would strip out and maybe ruin the screw so stopped. Any ideas?
Try putting a bit of valve grinding compound in the slot on the head of the screw before inserting the screwdriver. It will really help hold the tip onto the screw You can also use a soldering iron on the screw head to apply heat to the screw to loosen any loctite
A minor point: I have learned in my advanced years, that often times when trying to loosen a tight screw/bolt, applying a large amount of torque and meeting with absolutely no movement, it can be frustrating. To say it very politely. What I have also learned, is applying a massive (relatively speaking) amount of torque -and keeping that amount of torque on the screw/bolt sometimes allows it to free up. In other words, giving it an instant twist with no success, is common, but giving it a huge amount of torque and maintaining that torque for a period of time does the trick. ( This is hard to explain....) Next time, try to twist much slower. In very simplistic terms- And I second the soldering iron trick. I have seen guys use one of those hand-held hammer-powered impact tools. (What we used to use back in the motorcycle days.) Personally, I would probably vote no on that method. Maybe a long handled 1/4" drive breaker bar? A person can develop an extremely large amount of horsepower with one of those.
There's no problem holding the tip in since it's a "star drive." Thanks guys, I will try the soldering iron heat and the continued torque method.
I’ve had luck with “shocking” tight screws. Hit the screwdriver with a hammer and sometimes the impact will loosen it up.
Kroil brand penetrating oil will get into anywhere. It's a lot more expensive than hardware/auto parts store penetrating oils, but it's that much better.
So I removed the scope and base finally and reinstalled the iron sights. I think it looks so much better now for an 1885.