Dropout Adjuster removal tricks

[Jonathan]

I've got an old 62 Paramount in the shop I'm repainting for a pal that has very coroded and broken dropout adjusters. They are both broken off flush. Anybody have any tricks to removing these things?

thanks

[pruckelshaus]

I had the same issue, not surprisingly also on an old paramount. I had to drill out and re-tap:

* File broken end flat to the dropout
* Carefully mark the center with a good hit on a small center punch
* Even more carefully drill. This took me a good 20 minutes with a new TiN bit.
* Tap

[steve garro]

I've got an old 62 Paramount in the shop I'm repainting for a pal that has very coroded and broken dropout adjusters. They are both broken off flush. Anybody have any tricks to removing these things?

thanks

inside the DO too? do you think they are siezed as well? pics? if it's a re-paint can you braze anything to them?- Garro.

[Andrew R Stewart]

This was recently covered in another internet frame list. The suggestions were to drill and retap, EDM out the screw (and retap?) or weld a rod to the end that sticks into the slot and unthread screw (if not stuck). Thank god I've not had to remove a flushly broken off screw, only sticky stuck ones. When chasing or retapping be REAL careful. Lots of cutting fluid, a new/sharp tap and good technique. Those taps are fragile!

[Jonathan]

inside the DO too? do you think they are siezed as well? pics? if it's a re-paint can you braze anything to them?- Garro.

They are flush and seized. I'll see if I can take some pics. It would be nice to get this 40yo lady back on the road.

[Too Tall]

Use an ezout. Prep. the adjusters with the ezout kit first and go ahead and screw the ezout in than heat the whole mess with a torch and when it gets hot spray with a mist of water and work quick.

[e-RICHIE]

yeah what they said atmo.
i cut them off with a saw, file the back side down as much as possible, and no. 49 bit drill a hole through, and then another...

after that, i run the 3 x .05 tap through and show it who's boss atmo.

[Doug Fattic]

Jonathan,

There is a tool designed specifically to remove taps. It has hardened steel "fingers" that slide down the side of the tap into the grooves for chip removal. You have to buy a tool that has the same number of fingers as grooves. These fingers rest in the parent tool - which is a round steel dowel with milled slots for backing the fingers held above the tap. There is a sleeve that slides down to hold the fingers tight on the tool and in the tap. A square head at the top of the tool allows for it to be turned with a wrench. If you are lucky, the fingers won't break off when the tool is turned. I've used it with success a few times. It works easier on larger taps but it will work on a 3 X .5 thread.

Doug

[e-RICHIE]

Jonathan,

There is a tool designed specifically to remove taps. It has hardened steel "fingers" that slide down the side of the tap into the grooves for chip removal. You have to buy a tool that has the same number of fingers as grooves. These fingers rest in the parent tool - which is a round steel dowel with milled slots for backing the fingers held above the tap. There is a sleeve that slides down to hold the fingers tight on the tool and in the tap. A square head at the top of the tool allows for it to be turned with a wrench. If you are lucky, the fingers won't break off when the tool is turned. I've used it with success a few times. It works easier on larger taps but it will work on a 3 X .5 thread.

Doug

it's the screw, not the tap atmo.

[bellman]

if there is any protruding into the dropout area, you might be able to fiie a small flat on the top and bottom and get it to move with some needlenose pliers by advancing it further into the dropout. most of the time stuff gets tight trying to remove but is fairly easy to move if you are inserting it. Heat the dropout and count to 100 and give it a whirl.

[Jonathan]

thanks, all