Challenger 1800 '97 - reverse bucket replacement trouble...

[funvee]

On my 97 challenger 1800 I have a cracked Port side reverse bucket. I have a replacement here ready to go but there is a screw on the outside that makes no sense to me... It has a hole in the middle but nothing to put a driver or socket on. How do you remove it?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[dbracela]

Do you have a picture of it?

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... post a pic.

 

[funvee]

Hi guys,
Here is the starboard side one (its the same).


Thanks for looking at it for me!
Shawn

 

[El Toro 33809]

I can't tell for sure, but it looks like a torx or star fitting to me. I think our Mercury uses Allen fittings.

 

[funvee]

Tried torx, tried Allen... The bolt is round in the middle opening and had six metal tabs sticking inwards. They won't hold a torx or Allen key. They just bend.

Thanks!

 

[dbracela]

I just went outside and tried mine. A T-40 bit on a socket wrench turned the bolt without bending the tabs. Maybe your's is stuck, and you bent the tabs. Would a flat head screw driver catch enough of the bent tabs to turn it?

 

[funvee]

I'll try that as soon as I get home... I know the tabs are bent on mine but I didn't know I those tabs were what is supposed to be gripping the tool.

I'll let u know how it goes in a bit.

Thanks!

 

[dbracela]

Mine actually has grooves in the head itself, so I don't think the bit was grabbing the tabs. Try and see if a T-45 will fit (mine's MIA), as the 40 seemed a bit loose. If the bucket is trashed anyway, I suppose you could cut the plastic off around the head and just turn it out of the bracket with vice grips.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep.... that's a stripped Torx.


If you have a small rotary tool, with a cutting wheel (Like a Dremel) you can slot the top, and try a flat blade screwdriver.

 

[funvee]

Thanks guys, the T-40 worked perfect. I must have tried smaller and bigger but not that one because it came straight off. Bucket changed and on to the next project on the 1800

Thanks everyone!!
Shawn