Trying to get the rear, driver side wrist pin cover plate off to remove piston to inspect the rings. One screw came out ok but the other one rounded off the phillips drive slots and is stuck. I have already drilled a hole for an easy-out but even with that it is not budging. I am putting enough torque on it that I feel some torsion in the easy-out so I am close to snapping it and definitely don't want that. Have been spraying it with penetrating oil and tried heating it up several times. Still not even a hint of rotation. What's the secret to this? BTW: 1999 SOHC EJ25 from Forester.

<<What's the secret to this?>>

 

use a impact screwdriver next time. try to drill out of the screw without damaging the threads.

Definitely what he said. An impact driver with a large phillips bit. Whack 'em once and they come right out. At this point drill and extraction is probably your only option. If you have left-handed drill bits you may get lucky enough to heat and grab a flute and remove it without having to drill it all the way out.

 

You may still be able to use an impact driver. If you have a dremel you might try grinding a slot into the head. The using a flat tip on the impact driver it may come out still. Worth a shot.

Thanks guys. guess I will be going to Sears at lunch to get tools.

Yeah avoid the EZ out. If it comes out with an EZ out it will come out with all sorts of other methods too.

You can still cut a slot with a dremel and use a flat-head impact screwdriver.

 

 

Dave

Thanks to everyone who offered advice.

I went out this afternoon bought an impact driver and decided to give it a shot without even grinding a slot. (There was still a little shape left in the phillips slots.) A few good whacks with the hammer and she started turning. Easy peasy. Definitely will reach for this first if I need to remove a phillips screw from now on.