I’ve got a 15hp Johnson that was run in saltwater a good bit. I went to change the foot oil and can’t get either oil plug screws out. I soaked each with penetrating oil about every other day for a week. I rapped each with a hammer with a big flat screwdriver in the slot. Then put my full weight on the screwdriver and turned the screwdriver with wrench. NADA Tried this several times - no help. I even heated the area around the screw just a little with a propane torch. Still won’t budge. Only idea I have left is getting a small chisel and trying to tap the screw counterclockwise like you would do a rung off bolt. I do hope not to end up with one!! Any ideas on getting them out?
Take an impact gun with a socket big enough to fit over the end of the flat head screw driver you are using. While you turne the screw drive get someone else to press the impact on the end of handle end of teh scre driver. I have had luck with that in the past, not on oil screw but other corroded screws.
Use a dremel tool with a small burr attachment and carefully go around the perimeter of the screw head taking out the edge of the head (this is where the corrosion is locking it in place). Be careful not to go too deep and hit the aluminum beneath.
You should be able to easily back whats left of the plug out using your screwdriver.
We had to do this on two drain plugs in the past and worked like a charm.
I use a BIG square shank screwdriver. Put it in the slot and hit it few whacks with a rubber mallet,then put a BIG crescent wrench on the shaft. I’ve never seen one that wouldn’t come out.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Agreed with the above, esp. Cracker Larry. I went to Harbor Freight and bought the biggest flathead screwdriver I could find, because my lower plug was stuck too. Heating the area around the plug should help as long as you don’t heat the plug itself. I didn’t use a rubber mallet on mine, I used a regular hammer and pinged on it a few good stout raps. I then wrapped the handle in a dry rag for a good non-slip grip, and gronked on it. Pop, out like a charm.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
If you haven’t gotten it from all the fine tips above, try and Impact srcewdriver. You can spend some big bucks on a nice name brand kit or hit up harbor frieght and get a kit for about $12.00.
It is designed to accept different tips and you just whack the crap out of it with a hammer and it’s internal workings applies rotational torque will minimizing cam out. Just make sure to use the biggest bit you can fit on your stuck plug. I bought mine after fighting some phillip screws on an old motorcycle.
Some are only designed to loosen, mine will tighten or loosen. Make sure if it does both you have it set right and don’t tighten it up more if you get one.
Edit, If you have a friend handy clamp a pair of vise grips on the biggest screw driver you can get to fit it and while you are slowly putting pressure on it, have your buddy steady whacking it with the hammer.
Already tried wrench on the screwdriver and the socket with driver in it. This sucka is on there good!!!I’ll have to go get an impact screwdriver. I had seen one of those years ago but, have not found one local. Will have to go to HarborFreight or NorthernTool. I don’t have a dremel. I’ve already smoked a cigar and went thru 4 beers only to get my BP up over them for about the third time!
Thanks for the ideas - all.
I read an article somewhere that tested and found the best penetrating oil was a 50:50 or so mixture of automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Wouldn’t hurt to try.
