Reeds "what tool to use"

[bill mason]

What darn tool do you guys use to tighten the (looks like six point) screws that hold reeds onto blocks. I am stripping the damn heads faster than I can replace them!! I am thinking of going to slotted regular headed screws. Any problem with doing that and by the way Merc book calls for no locktite but see post suggesting using blue. Make any difference?? Thanks in advance for replys guys

[Hot Shot Merc]

Cut a slot in the screw heads and use a flat screw driver.

[tinker060]

I suspect they are torx heads. With my poor eyesight, I had the same problem when trying to use a Phillips head screw driver. My neighbor pointed out I would have better results using the correct tool........ If you are going to replace the existing screws, use a Phillips screw. You can get the screw a lot tighter with less possibility of screwing up the head.

Blue or Red LT is OK if you don't plan on replacing the reeds anytime soon (like never). You think you are stripping out heads now....just wait until you try it with good old red LT holding them in place.

Jon Wright

[props4u2]

is the way to go, red is almost impossible to get loose.


Lee

[mach351]

I got a Torx bit (I think T-15) for my Makita 14.4v impact driver and it zips them out in a heartbeat - can go through a set of 7 peddals in about 20min start to finish:D

[T-REX]

I don't use loctite at all on reed screw's, and they are still a pain in tha azz if tightend too tight(which most people do)...I have had to grind off tha heads ov the screws to git them out...


can go through a set of 7 peddals in about 20min start to finish

I gotta bout a weekz worth ov stripped reedz over yher, thankz in part to a drill and halfazzed wore out bit:(

[WATERWINGS]

Tell me if I am wrong or not, but there is no room for them to come out anyway, (sure, we don't want anything loose in our motors, but I don't think they can get out once installed into the front 1/2.)

[bill mason]

I bought a new inch torque wrence and the damn screws that have the six point slots are a pain. I have had to cut a slot in them and use air tool or drill out screws to get them out. Thanks for info on locktite. I think I am going to replace all of them with regular screws.

[fastguy]

Bill, I think the part number for the screws is 10-823558 you could check with a Merc dealer for the head size.
I sold my reed blocks so I have no way to check the size for you.
George

[bill mason]

Ole friend, Steve at Extreme Marine is taken care of me, thx everyone for replys