Help with getting the skylight off

[Cruz]

I need to remove and reseal the hightop skylight so I got my step ladder and screwdriver only to find that the British weather has had a good old party with the screws for 23 years. They are rusted to hell and totally foobard.

Has anyone got any experience in removing rusty screws in hard to reach places and can give me any tips in how to remove them or will it be drilling time? I enclose some pictures of the offending item

Pic 1

Pic 2

[Cate]

Yuck, they look well rusted in, plusgas and patience?

[tezandkate1]

If the cross is knackered, it is sometimes possible to hacksaw a slot and thus get a bigger , flat bladed screw driver in there. I did mine and did a few this way successfully, found they werent screwed in that hard. It will make drilling a bit more tricky though if it doesnt work.

Terry

[tezandkate1]

Obviously that will only work with the ones you can get at, I should have looked closer at the pictures.

T

[Horza]

All those screw heads are proud though, you should be able to get at them with the blade even if not the whole saw or if you have one a dremel thinger with a cutting wheel.

I'm not suggesting you take this as advice but I'd be tempted to get in about them with a small molegrip and then use a huge crosshead once they are underway.

[Cruz]

All those screw heads are proud though, you should be able to get at them with the blade even if not the whole saw or if you have one a dremel thinger with a cutting wheel.

I'm not suggesting you take this as advice but I'd be tempted to get in about them with a small molegrip and then use a huge crosshead once they are underway.

tried a large molegrip (only one I have) but will try a small one, cheers

or I may even saw a slot in the heads and try a flat blade screwdriver

[Tex Ritter]

As has already been mentioned, get a small set of mole grips, there's enough of the head showing to enable you to twist them out.

You may have to take the 'lid' off (you'll be able to stick out of the top then) to get at some of them, but looking from here they look like a doddle to remove.

Be prepared for knackered chip board type material underneath (Devon Roof). Mine was and had to be rplaced with treated softwood.

If all else fails drill just enough to take the heads off completely, it's easier than you may think.

To avoid future problems, make sure you use SS screws when putting it all back together (caravan parts shop).

Tex Ritter

[R0B]

shaun.got a dremel here if you need to borrow one......

[Cruz]

cheers for all the advice I'll be giving it a proper go on wednesday instead of the half-arsed effort I've put in so far (too cold for softies)

I may even file flats on the sides of the heads to help gripping if any prove a little stubborn

[Cruz]

Just had a blitz today and managed to remove 70% of them. Just need to borrow a taller step ladder from work for the rest

[Cruz]

Got the skylight off at last

Thinking if refitting with IDL99 non drying sealant, removing access and then filleting the edge with waterproof silicone sealant as I'm not to sure about using Sikaflex especailly if I ever need to get it off again as I hear it's a real bugger to remove.

[Horza]

Sikaflex is probably what keeps yer roof on yer van, it's a good thing it's a real bugger to get off when you think about it

[Cruz]

LOL

My fingers are crossed that my leisuredrive roof is one of the few held on with sikaflex and screws

[Tex Ritter]

Get some of that mastic ribbon from a caravan shop, it comes in various widths. It's very simple to use, but beware, put the frame in the right spot first time, cos it dont arf stick.

Tex Ritter