Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

[Looselectron]

I got an Omec Teleport (Orange), and it's one of the best sounding audio interface for amp modeling software with some of the lowest latency I've ever experienced.
Then suddenly it stops working, but I can't unscrew the enclosure to see if it's something I can't fix myself.

Has anyone else encountered a pedal with four screws that will not budge as if they have been locked in place with glue to prevent tampering?

 

[Coma]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

Nothing that bad but I recently tried to repair a TC Electronic pedal and that was a MAJOR PITA. Had to buy new tools just to be able to open it up, screws were way over-tightened and in the process of trying to de-solder the switch I ended up wrecking the pedal.

So yeah, sometimes manufacturers aren't too keen on letting you tinker with their stuff.

If I were to take a wild guess, you could use some sort of lubricant on stuck screws, but I'm not too certain that'd be a good idea on something with electronics inside it.

 

[larryguitar]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

Most adhesives (and locktite and similar thread lockers) are defeated by heat. It might be worth a try to touch a soldering iron to the screw head for several seconds, and then try removing it while still hot.


Larry

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

Most adhesives (and locktite and similar thread lockers) are defeated by heat. It might be worth a try to touch a soldering iron to the screw head for several seconds, and then try removing it while still hot.


Larry

That's also a good way to break the head off the screw.

 

[devastone]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

Heat is the correct way to loosen thread lockers. You don't get it red hot, just heat up the screw a little. Also make sure you are using the correct size screwdriver, phillips screws will strip really easy if the screwdriver is too big or too small.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

Yeah, but when you're talking screws this small, it's gonna be really easy to overdo it.

 

[Looselectron]

Re: Screws Stuck!!! Epoxied???

It turns out that I wasn't using the right bit. The guys over at the Music Electronics forum schooled me deep in the art of screwing. :banned:
Luckily I had a better quality tool with a bit that fit more snuggly. Surprisingly, a shorter handle is what gave my arm the pressure and torque needed to loosen the stubborn screws.
Still I damaged the heads and hurt my wrist to extract them.
Thanks to everyone for their advice.