Prolimatech megahalems bolt down problem

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Hey there. I've un-installed my Pro/Mega but upon unscrewing the bolt-down mechanism these top screws became insanely hard to unscrew with a phillips I ended up using a pair or pliers. Do I have a bad bolt-down mechanism or is this common?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

looks similar to the way the D14 bolts, get one bolt on. just enough so that it catches, then get the other on. then continue to tighten evenly.

you wont be able to tighten up one side then get the other side on the screw

 

[MJinZ]

He's talking unbolting, and no these screws are fine. I've done it many times and you need the right sized phillips head so you don't strip the screws, like you are doing.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

make sure u apply pressure when unscrewing, so you don't strip the head

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

He's talking unbolting, and no these screws are fine. I've done it many times and you need the right sized phillips head so you don't strip the screws, like you are doing.

I had to use a pair of pliers to even turn the bolt to atleast get it off the cross-arm itself and I had a double cloth towel over the bolt so I wouldn't end up with marks like I did; that's how much pressure it took to get it out. I don't think a Phillips would of helped. What's wrong with it?

 

[LOUISSSSS]

like you are doing.

like who is doing?

 

[MJinZ]

I had to use a pair of pliers to even turn the bolt to atleast get it off the cross-arm itself and I had a double cloth towel over the bolt so I wouldn't end up with marks like I did; that's how much pressure it took to get it out. I don't think a Phillips would of helped. What's wrong with it?

Uh, I have no idea what you're trying to do:

This:

Is all you need to tighten down the screws and untighten and remove the screws. The screws are threaded to the exact torque and spring loaded, which means you CAN NOT overtighten them. You physically can not without damaging the screws and threads.

It sounds like you tightened it to damaging proportions.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

You need to understand this. After the point of the Phillips becoming useless to take out the screw, I had to use a pair of pliers to atleast turn the head. Imagine you put the strength of both your hands on the pair of pliers to hold the bolt while you turn it, do you understand now that a Phillips wouldn't of helped?

I'm asking if this is a common occurrence?

I understand that there is a point where the bolts cannot be turned anymore because of the shape of the bolts and backplate. It's the same way on a TRUE & backplate.

e.g.


The bolts I guess became stuck trying to get them out.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Wait, I don't think I explained where it was getting stuck. It's not the threads or the part where it screws in. It's the place where you drop the screw in the cross arm; the place where it's suppose to be smooth.

In the pic above, the cross arm is behind the foreground object, it was stuck in that piece.

 

[MJinZ]

Wait, I don't think I explained where it was getting stuck. It's not the threads or the part where it screws in. It's the place where you drop the screw in the cross arm; the place where it's suppose to be smooth.

In the pic above, the cross arm is behind the foreground object, it was stuck in that piece.

Huh ? THere is no screw in middle of the cross bar.

This is the correct way to mount it:

And no, this can't be a common occurance because as you see, there are 10 things to tighten on a Megahalem. The 4 stands to the backplate. The 4 nuts to the stands. And the 2 spring loaded screws through the center piece into the parallel plates. These screws can be tightened with a Philips and unscrewed with a Philips, without any excessive force needed.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Huh ? THere is no screw in middle of the cross bar.

This is the correct way to mount it:

And no, this can't be a common occurance because as you see, there are 10 things to tighten on a Megahalem. The 4 stands to the backplate. The 4 nuts to the stands. And the 2 spring loaded screws through the center piece into the parallel plates. These screws can be tightened with a Philips and unscrewed with a Philips, without any excessive force needed.

Ok, you are not helping because you are not understanding, regardless I appreciate your enthusiasm.

 

[ehume]

One thing I have noted in mounting and dismounting my Mega: If I try to take one spring-mounted screw out before loosening the other, it will bind. I loosen one, then the other, alternating until the crossbar is freed. I tighten them the same way: alternating.

While I have never had a screw jam with this cooler, I can see it happening.

I'm an old fart, I like to mess around with mechanical things and I'm no expert, so I have jammed a lot of screws in my time. When I run into a jam, I back off and try to see what is binding the screw. I am very leery of tightening or loosening bound screws. I commend the practice to you.

Does the screw go in easily now that you have freed it? If so, you should be OK. If not, further inspection is in order: are the threads in the mounting bar shot? Are the threads on the screw shot?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Both the threads on the screw and mounting bar are ok. Also, I understand the way you are explaining on how to tighten and unloosen items like this. I learned this back in the day. What cued me to overlook this in the first place is initially before I first installed it, I tested the screws in the mounting bar and they seemed difficult to insert, so I thought this was normal (being my first Mega)

I might take some sand paper and smoothen out any jagged marks on the screw cylinders...

 

[LOUISSSSS]

if you have some wd-40 or some bike lube or something like that, you can put some of that on the screws threads and it should go in easier. just a thought. i dont have a megahalem so i dont really get the mounting mechanism.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

if you have some wd-40 or some bike lube or something like that, you can put some of that on the screws threads and it should go in easier. just a thought. i dont have a megahalem so i dont really get the mounting mechanism.

I was thinking that too, like using some hobby-small-app grease. Great suggestion, thanks LOUISSSSS!

 

[ehume]

Actually, if you're with the ANG you ought to have access to Break Free, which is the best for . . . breaking free.

 

[Infrnl]

BTRY: I had the same issue on one of my megahalems. Its because the machining of the shaft of the screw and the hole in the cros bar are sometimes to tight. Along with minor debris or metal shaving.
I had a very hard time but finally got it out and carefully enlrged the hole a tiny bit so it would not happen again.

Weird thing is it threaded in just fine, but taking it out something happened. Unexplainable for me, But I know exactly what you are talking about.

Try to screw it back in and work it loose so you can at least get the screws out. just on the cross bar though. Do not try to remount it. You just have to work it back and forth if you can till you can get it free. Then slightly enlarge the holes for reassembly.

Hope this helps

EDIT; if you want to try a liquid to spray; use pb blaster.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Thanks Infrnl nice to see you posting around here again.

I think I'm just going to use a lubricant on it and see what happens. Maybe a hobby grease or maybe some thermal compound.

 

[aamsel]

oops