Front Brake Master Cylinder Screws: metal or CHEESE?????????
 

My Goodness, I applied very little strengh! doh (wtf!) Maybe due to cold temperatures..?

I plan to buy an impact driver tomorrow, but will it damage the mecanism? (emptying fluid, removing it from its place and putting it over a wooden block, for a softer impact). What about heating with a BIC lighter (know them better than with oxy-acetilene torches people recommend for studs)

Any other options in such delicate place? Drilling seems pretty tricky.

Does the cover has an inside "lid" or can I rotate it if I remove 1 of the screws?

Already postponed MOT twice... what's going wrong with these damn f**king brakes???

http://i.imgur.com/Ex5L7.jpg

Try the impact driver, press down really hard and give it a firm tap, you could try a sharp punch and drive the screws round with that, or drill, I think the screws are M4, drill a shallow pilot hole 2-3mm (take care not to break the bit!) then use a 4mm bit,(don't break it!) this should take the head of the screw off, lift the top off and use pliers or grips to take the screw out of the master cylinder.
Replace them with "allen" screws
Impact driver will be a good investment, as is a hot air gun

How about a slot with a dremel then screwdriver.

Your not the first and you will not be the last to do this to those screw in paticular. I understand that the eastern fiends have a slightly different slot to the drivers you/we have and so the driver head is wrong shape.

Have a look here http://www.motorcycle.in.th/article....ps-Screwdriver or

JIS Screwdrivers - webBikeWorld

Best ensure slot is clean and then apply direct and firm presure whilst turning driver.

But for now as mentioned above Try the sharp punch or a bradle on the flat outside of the head first. If you drill dont go to far just enough to remove the head of the screw.

Good luck

Thx (again), I'll try the impact screwdriver. Plastic head hammer rather than fully iron? I should get many tools, but I do not plan to stay here forever, so not good to move out/leave behind (and I have borrowed the garage, so not really my place to work):(

Same for the dremel, but I'd love it!

At least I did this right: I tried several (exchangeable) screwdrivers till I got the perfect fit. I guess it was too cold and I applied not so perfect strength... But I'll write with interest the whole article.

Thanks again to all. Maybe one day I'll give those advices to a novice hubber-mechanic-wanabee as myself! :smartass:

For those considering drilling any other screw, I just saw this and was told it works well (although cost more than 60€ here!). It seems pretty interesting (I think about snapped header pipes bolts):

Amazon.com: Alden 8530P Grabit Damaged Screw Remover 3 Piece Kit: Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Alden 3719P X-out Damaged Screw Remover Kit with Case, 3-Piece: Home Improvement

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...gL._AA300_.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg


In the meantime, I got this impact screw that I also expect to use more often (20€)... but have to wait until tomorrow to try it out:

http://www.kraftwerk-hosendorfer.at/...mages/2035.jpg