How to remove a stubborn screw from a new TV mount?

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GeoffisPure

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#239542 22-Jul-2018 20:17

Hi all,

Today I bit the bullet and bought a new LG 55" OLED C8 TV. It's the most I've ever spent on a TV and I was super excited to get it home but I've made a terrible mistake. In screwing the base stand to the TV I've done so in the wrong order (I needed to connect the 2 base pieces together before attaching it to the tv).

I've tried to unscrew the part that I've attached but one of the screws is very stuck in and the head has become completely worn - it's just not possible to undo. (Was a phillips head screw, is now just a big circle).

What can I do? I can't stand the TV up without first removing the part I've attached and redoing it properly, but this screw is just not budging.

Any advice appreciated.

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#2060654 22-Jul-2018 20:21

If it's not complete flat , try put thick rubber on it and screw with pressure.

If no luck, find the same size drill and slowly drill head out.

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maoriboy

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#2060658 22-Jul-2018 20:22

A couple of suggestions via Lifehacker.. They may not work but it doesn't sound like you've got many options left.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/04/how-to-remove-screws-with-stripped-heads/

chevrolux

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#2060659 22-Jul-2018 20:22

If the screw head is completely stripped, you will need to use on of those "screw extractor" bits. It wrecks the screw, but will get it out.

Otherwise, if the head is quite "round", you might be able to just get a larger screw driver. Apply force and undo slowly.

scuwp

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#2060662 22-Jul-2018 20:31

If the screw is protruding (round head) you could try gently grabbing the side of it with a pair of small vice grips or possibly a pair of pliers if it's not in too tight. My next step would be a screw extractor, deending on what size you are dealing with: http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/Product/SCA-Screw-Extractor-Set-5-Piece/104488

Failing that your best option is to drill it out. That could leave part of the screw in the hole however meaning if you want to re-use that hole you may need some more work.

Possibly a electronic repair shop could have a smaller extractor kit if the consumer grade ones are too big.

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andrewNZ

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#2060666 22-Jul-2018 20:40

scuwp:
http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/Product/SCA-Screw-Extractor-Set-5-Piece/104488

These ones are not the ones.
That style extractor is terrible. They don't bite well and you have to drill deep to use them.

I'll find a link to the best extractors I've ever used. Wait there.

andrewNZ

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#2060668 22-Jul-2018 20:48

These are the ones. I can't vouch for the quality of this particular brand, but the style is kickass. You will need pliers to remove the screw from the extractor when you're done.

Drill the head with the drill end (it's a left hand drill) then use the extractor.
Be sure to only apply turning force. If you try to bend it too much, it'll snap off in the screw, and then you'll be having a bad time.

Dingbatt

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#2060689 22-Jul-2018 21:50

I had the same problem with a speaker stand bracket only a couple of days ago. Used vice-grips to grab each side of the screw head and was able to rotate the screw enough to loosen it. Sometimes a flat bladed screwdriver will have enough purchase on the inside of the burred-out screw head to get it rotating. Worth a go if you can't access the side of the screw.
Only as an absolute last resort drill the screw out. Once you have done that if the screw hole is in the chassis of the TV you will probably be faced with using a mounting bracket on the back of the TV instead.
The extractor linked above by AndrewNZ will be a better bet then drilling.

Phillips screws are just the worst. I will always try and use square drive or even slotted in preference.

I have even sacrificed a screw driver by super-gluing it to a screw that just had to come out.

Great TV though!

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Bung

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#2060692 22-Jul-2018 21:54

If you haven't cross threaded the screw, just stuffed the head using a pozidrive screw driver I usually find that carefully drilling the head off leaves enough of the stem to hold with some good pliers. Don't use a blunt drill and just create heat or you'll damage the plastic.

antoniosk

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#2060696 22-Jul-2018 22:04

Perhaps a photo of the screw and the assembly it's in? as I recall there isnt much room with LG stands to get more than a screwdriver in

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chevrolux

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#2060703 22-Jul-2018 22:11

1000% wouldn't even try drilling it out in a plastic TV part.

That bit andrewNZ linked would be your best bet.

andrewNZ

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#2060707 22-Jul-2018 22:18

I've extracted over 100 screws with the style extractor I linked. I've had one failure where I had to go up a size and one where the extractor engaged crooked and broke the tip off.

If the screw is extractable those bits will do it.

Drilling a head off would be my absolute last resort.

Rikkitic

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#2060729 22-Jul-2018 23:26

Just to be clear, are you talking about the part that attaches to the TV with four recessed screws? Is it one of these screws that you can't get loose?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

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#2060732 22-Jul-2018 23:35

This is a stand installation video for the TV. I believe it is the correct one. If it is, the screws are recessed, making it difficult to get at them with pliers or anything like that. I would first try the above suggestion to use a small flat-head screwdriver to try to get purchase on what is left of the screw head. Push down hard on it while turning to maximise grip. This has worked for me more than once.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Bung

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#2060733 22-Jul-2018 23:50

If it is similar to my earlier LG the stand attaches with 4 m4 screws that thread into the steel chassis of the tv.

I have looked at the extractors that Andrew uses and see that they are different to the easy outs that I never had much time for. I may try them.

Brunzy

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#2060743 23-Jul-2018 06:38

Wall mount instead?

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