Is there a way to fix a stripped out hole foe a self tapping screw?
I was putting in new turn signal bulbs yesterday and the one screw hole for the cover stripped out. Can't put in bigger screw.

Planning on a trip to Summit Racing today. It's only about 1 hour and fifteen minutes away. I haven't been there for several years. Since i was there last the size has doubled.

 

Terry,

can you get to both sides ? Usually sheet metal screws will 'pull' the metal up and out of the hole. If you can put something behind the hole to 'dolly' it and then hammer the sides of the hole back down and into the hole you can get the hole back small enough so the threads will hold. It won't be as strong as before but it might be strong enough.

Maybe by using a pin punch a bit larger than the hole with a helper holding the 'dolly' (backing plate) you can hammer it back..

just a thought... or if that doesn't work... use a nyloc nut on a threaded machine screw now...

john

 

Thanks. I may try locktite first.

 

Jon is on target as usual - here's a couple additional tools you can try to close up the hole in the lamp bucket. Try pliers or channel locks or even a C-clamp depending on where the tab is located and how available it is.

You might not need to close up the hole - sometimes just bending the tab slightly will allow the threads to catch on the new angle.

 

Hey MTFlat. Hows things in Montana? It was 75 here on friday and 34 today. Wait 15 minutes and it will change. I noticed the hole was mushroomed out a little so i should be able to use a pair of pliers or vicegrips to flatten out. I may also try using a piece of sheet metal inside bucket as John suggested.