honda decided to install the pulse generator to the crankcase cover with two philipps head screws insted of hex bolts. the screw heads are stripped, so i thought of using a left hand drill bit to remove them. any better ideas?

 

First off you need to buy a screwdriver impact set. They are cheap and worth thier weight in gold. But, since you have already striped them anyway, you will have to try and use a chisel and hammer. Use the chisel and hammer first straight towards the screw and hit it a couple of times to get a good grove cut into the screw so the chisel will get a grip, once you have a good grove angle the chisel so that when you hit it, it will loosen the screw. Once you break them loose they generally screw out pretty easy. If you can't get to it with a hammer and chisel the use a hammer and a flat bladed screwdriver. The screws are made out of some pretty light wieght stuff as you could tell as soon as you striped them. Drive the blade of the screwdriver into the screw until it cuts into it and you can turn the screw. If you have to use the screwdriver I highly recomend cutting the grove with a regular screwdriver and then using a screwdriver impact to remove it. You don't really want to take a chance at ruining a case do you?

 

Before you go and thrash the screws with a chisel..... try valve grinding compound if you have any.....I do it all the time here and at work......just dip the end of the screwdriver in the compound....smear it in the srcew......put the bit in and push like hell and turn it..... it workes for me about 95% of the time...granted. you need to have a little of the screw head left. I also hear those screw extractors at sear work real well...Never tried them yet though. ....................Chisel is the "last" chance ....once you cut into that thing you cant go back...most of the time you will cut the head off and screw up the hole it was in....... I wish you the best.

 

also like to add......do not try the impact driver..........I do not know about the cheap ones.....But my snap-on takes about a 40-50# hit before it activates............most of your engine is thin aluminum housings........Soft metal parts and a 50# blow with a hammer usually ends up bad......

 

got it. not enough room to really work with using chisel. eventually went with the left hand bit. eventually the screw backed itself out enough where i could grab it and turn. a local bolt company had the 5 x 16 bolts needed to replace, but i will have to cut down to 5 x 14. no big deal.

 

good deal!!!! glad to hear you got it!