Repair Question- Rounded Fin Keyholes

[ccsurfer1488]

hey um i dont know how i did it, i guess just by switching fins alot but the inside part where i put the fin key into to take the fin out is rounded so i cant get my fins in or out now- once i get them out i can just get a new screw thing to put in there but the problem is getting the old rounded one out, so if uve ever had this problem and know how i can fix it then please let me know, thanks

[surf patrol]

I have this problem on a board and just have to leave the fin in all the time. I thought that removing and replacing the fin plug might be the only way to get round it. Interested to hear from someone who has the solution.

[little waves]

not sure if this would work for ya cause both my boards use standard screws for the fins and i dont need a fin key...but would a drill somehow help? maybe would it be possible to drill out the screw/screw head?

[deathfrog]

the fcs keys are crap (i'm assuming that's what you're using). Get a good allen wrench, you'll have to find the size yourself though, I forgot what it was.

order some new grub screws, and to get the old ones out glue the key into the screw, then carefully back it out. You can break the screw off of the key when you get it out and use it again.

[surf patrol]

glue the key into the screw, then carefully back it out.

Nice - simple but effective. Good work deathfrog.

[Brent]

fcs keys, 2mm allen screws & the design of their fin attachment is not crap. The problem is the punters using it. They overtighten them. Or worse, don't put the 2mm allen key firmly in the hole when tightening or loosening it - therefore trashing the key and any screw it touches in the future.

Whenever you have a metal screw or whatever screwing into another softer base material be it plastic, fiberglass or whatever you have the very soft material getting a very tight grip on the hard material. Because it is flexable.
This (I think) with fcs sockets is compounded by U.V. over time hardening the plastic fitting over time and almost welding the little 2mm screws in tight.

The lession I've learned is....lubricate the screw with light oil, grease, crc, vaseline or something and then put it back in the thread. Use a quality high tenstile 2mm allen key...not the cheap fcs supplied key. And you'll never ever strip a thread.

If you already have done so. Bad luck. But it can be fixed. Go to an engineering shop & buy a 2mm drill bit. Buy also a small bag of 2.5mm grub screws with allen heads. Buy yourself a quality 2mm & 2.5mm allen key while you're there.

Use the 2mm drill bit to drill out the trashed screw, screw a 2.5mm grub screw in it's place (the extra .5mm will cut a new thread on its was in). Likewise put some oil or other lubricant on all your other fin screws...so it won't happen to them. And don't overtighten. Simple.

[ccsurfer1488]

alright thanks guys, haha the glue is a good idea, the funny thing is my stoner friend said the same thing and i was like dude no, yur high but hey i guess he was right, thanks again