My 97 OB has a leaky fuel fill pipe. As I started to remove the pipe on my 97 OB, one of the three Phillips screws inside the fuel filler door began to strip.

 

Does anyone know if those three screws inside the filler door attach to anything other than the black piece of plastic that appears to be held in by four screws?

 

My desire is to remove the fuel filler tube along with the black plastic piece, and address the stripped screw once it's no longer attached to the gas tank. Although there are several options available, my most effective methods for removing stripped screws and bolts involve sparks or flames.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

mp

Although there are several options available, my most effective methods for removing stripped screws and bolts involve sparks or flames.

 

 

NO SPARKS OR FLAMES BY THE FUEL TANK!

 

well use some PB blaster or WD40 to losen up the screws and then try to get them off with a vicegrips

I had the exact same issue with mine.

 

That screw goes into the metal flange at the top of the filler pipe. That screw has to come out.

 

Use a drill bit just a little larger than the width of the other screws, and drill straight through the head of the rusty screw, once you've drilled as deep as the head, it will be free.

 

If you want to feel safe, pack the area with a damp cloth, but I've never seen a spark while drilling out a rusty screw head...

I had to WELD the area just behind the fuel filler pipe on my brat (where they always rust out)

 

 

+1 for the wet rag wrapped around the fill pipe!

Thanks in advance,

 

mp

 

 

So Max.... Did you also get your name from a hair dryer???

I had the exact same issue with mine.

 

That screw goes into the metal flange at the top of the filler pipe. That screw has to come out.

 

Use a drill bit just a little larger than the width of the other screws, and drill straight through the head of the rusty screw, once you've drilled as deep as the head, it will be free.

 

Hocrest - Thanks for the insight and advice. I completed the job without starting a Car-B-Q.

 

I started drilling with a small bit, and gradually increased the bit size until there wasn't much metal left on the screw head. Oh, and I added a drop of oil to the screw head. The screw was decapitated without too much effort.

 

The new pipe didn't easily line up with the screw holes up top, but the job is done and for the first time in 5 weeks I completely filled the gas tank.

 

Thanks again,

 

mp

 

P.S - Hair dryer it is! Most people (wrongly) assume microwave.