Two Grip Screws Stripped

[stevenorlando]

Hello All!

Today I went to take the grips off of my Springfield LW Operator, and two of them got stripped. VERY CHEAP SCREWS! I didn't put much pressure on them or anything like that. :mad:

How do I get them out. Is there any kind of part out there to help me get them out? :confused:

I never had much luck with screw extractors :(

[niemi24s]

What precisely is stripped: the grip screw in the grip screw bushing or the grip screw bushing in the frame?

[stevenorlando]

The grip screw is stripped. I'm not sure about the bushing!

Steve

[LX Kid]

If it's the "male" screw threads that are stripped, just buy new screws. If it's the "female" threads on the frame, aka known as bushings, then then can also just be replaced.

[Hawkmoon]

He's asking how to remove them. They can't be replaced while they are stuck in the gun.

Are they both on the same side? If you should be so fortunate, then you can remove the grip from the opposite side, insert a thin probe through the bushings from the back, and use that to apply pressure against the screws while turnng them.

If they aren't on the same side, a similar exercise but using something bent into a 'L' shape to apply pressure from within the magazine well might work.

[stevenorlando]

He's asking how to remove them. They can't be replaced while they are stuck in the gun.

Are they both on the same side? If you should be so fortunate, then you can remove the grip from the opposite side, insert a thin probe through the bushings from the back, and use that to apply pressure against the screws while turnng them.

If they aren't on the same side, a similar exercise but using something bent into a 'L' shape to apply pressure from within the magazine well might work.

They are not on the same side

On another forum it was suggested to superglue a hex wrench into the screwhole, and hopefully I can back out the screw.

Steve

[log man]

They are not on the same side

On another forum it was suggested to superglue a hex wrench into the screwhole, and hopefully I can back out the screw.

Steve
Yes, that's worked well for me in the past.

LOG

[niemi24s]

If you do eventually manage to get the screw out of the bushing without unscrewing the bushing from the frame, I'd be very cautious when installing the new grip screws.

If a grip screw shows even the least bit of binding, I'd clean out (chase) the bushing's internal threads with a tap. Otherwise the new screw may get stuck in the bushing and you may end up stripping the frame threads. Then you'd need oversized bushings!

If the cause of the problem was the grip screws loosening up and then being overtightened, little o-rings under the screw heads help.

Regards

[stevenorlando]

If you do eventually manage to get the screw out of the bushing without unscrewing the bushing from the frame, I'd be very cautious when installing the new grip screws.

If a grip screw shows even the least bit of binding, I'd clean out (chase) the bushing's internal threads with a tap. Otherwise the new screw may get stuck in the bushing and you may end up stripping the frame threads. Then you'd need oversized bushings!

If the cause of the problem was the grip screws loosening up and then being overtightened, little o-rings under the screw heads help.

Regards

I don't think there will be anything wrong with the bushings, however, I'll check.

Upon careful inspection of the screws and some earlier responses, I think the screws are torx, and I tried an allen wrench. I'll have to double-check this with Springfield.

[log man]

Yes, stock SA grip screws are Torx, and require a T15 driver.

LOG

[niemi24s]

So maybe nothing's stripped?

You can tell if it's a Torx just by looking. If you've not seen many, here's what they look like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx The illustration's not a real good depiction, but it's close.

There's also a Torx Plus, in which the outer tips of the lobes have sharp corners. Standard Torx drivers will work in them too, but Torx Plus drivers won't fit into a standard Torx screw.

Yours are most jprobably the standard Torx, so if you don't have any Torx bits - don't get a Torx Plus bit by misteak.

Regards

[Dexter]

Since it is both sides, I will go directly to Hawkmoon's second recommendation, and say that is exactly how I would proceed. You can always go the superglue route as a second option, but unless necessary, I wouldn't risk the albeit small possibility of getting the glue someplace where I didn't want it. Unless you have a good way to clamp it, it might be best if you have another set of hands, but I suspect that you could get enough outward pressure on the end of the screw with a wire that has a bend end of it. If you have a choice, take a bottom one out first, as it would easiest, and then you might have some "wiggle room".

[log man]

Using the T15 Torx driver will make a big difference as that is what is called for to remove SA grip screws. A 3/32"Allen wrench will fit in a T15 Torx screw head, but will strip the head 50% :) of the time, as it requires a T15 Torx driver.

LOG

[Dexter]

Flat blade screwdrivers sometimes work in a phillips head too... in a jam. If you don't have one already, pick up a T15 at any Sears, local hardware, home improvement, or auto parts stores, and although not necessarily for your grips, you may want to just get a set of them, something like T8 thru T22, as they are more common than you might think. (I think that's about the right range.) They are available with screwdiver type handles, typical allen wrench configuration, or square drive, all depending on what you want.

[stevenorlando]

Hello All!

First I tried the screwdriver/loctite with no success. :(

Then a visit to the local hardware store got me the torx screwdrivers and a screw remover. ;)

The torx screwdriver got one of the stripped screws out (I guess there was enough of a torx head to get the screwdriver in) :)

However, the other one didn't come out, so I drilled a hole partially through the screw (5/64) and used my screw remover. I used my var speed reversible drill, worked like a charm. :)

Got the grips off, checked the bushings, they seem ok. :)

With nothing to lose, I took the removed screw and while holding it with a pair of small vice grips, used a dremel cutter and made a shot (this will hold till I can get new screws). It worked, and I screwed the grip in. :appld:

Didn't detail-strip my Springfield yet, but I got to remove some oil residue that was underneath the grip. :nono:

Thanks to all of you who responded, your information was a big help in allowing me to fix this problem. :eb:

[stevenorlando]

Hello All!

First I tried the screwdriver/loctite with no success. :(

Then a visit to the local hardware store got me the torx screwdrivers and a screw remover. ;)

The torx screwdriver got one of the stripped screws out (I guess there was enough of a torx head to get the screwdriver in) :)

However, the other one didn't come out, so I drilled a hole partially through the screw (5/64) and used my screw remover. I used my var speed reversible drill, worked like a charm. :)

Got the grips off, checked the bushings, they seem ok. :)

With nothing to lose, I took the removed screw and while holding it with a pair of small vice grips, used a dremel cutter and made a shot (this will hold till I can get new screws). It worked, and I screwed the grip in. :appld:

Didn't detail-strip my Springfield yet, but I got to remove some oil residue that was underneath the grip. :nono:

Thanks to all of you who responded, your information was a big help in allowing me to fix this problem. :eb:

Got my replacement screws from Springfield, they are slotted screws. Went onto the bushing threads no problem, YEAH :)

[doctruptwn]

This is exactly why I only use the slotted screws for my grips, You never know when you might have to remove a grip for some reason and having those "fancy" screws can just cause headaches.