Grrrrr!!! Gaff problems

[MasterBlaster]

The big screw that holds the gaff to the shank sheared off on me. I have a set of old spurs, but I cannot get the screw to come out.

Anybody got any tricks concerning this?

 

[rumination]

drilling it out of there might work

 

[rumination]

the last time I tried to replace gaffs I could not get the screws out at all. KoaMan recommended using a hacksaw to cut into the gaffs to release the pressure on the screws. I gave it a shot and cut each screw in half from the outside of the gaff almost all the way down to the shank. It took a little while but it worked.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No, what I'm trying to do is get the old screw out of the old gaff and use it on my gaff.

I don't think its coming out. I wonder if I can get one of those screws here in town.

Dam!

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I had a bolt stuck into the head of my old Ford pick up and I didn't want to snap it. I found this stuff calle "PB blaster" at the parts store. I let it soak over night and the stuff worked. I had bent a large 1/2 inch ratchet trying to break loose this bolt before. Maybe pick up some of that stuff and let is soak in. Then try a good sharp punch to start that spinning.

 

[rumination]

I tried PB Blaster the last time I had this problem, let soak for a couple of days even, and it did not work. I think it couldn't get through the loctite that Klein puts on their screws.

Good luck Butch!

 

[MasterBlaster]

For what its worth, their Bashlin.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Sean! Send me a screw!!!

 

[Burnham]

I know getting the screw out is your number one issue right now, Butch, but have you put any energy into figuring out why the screw sheared off in the first place? Was it while you were climbing, or where you doing some maintenance? That sounds like a bad thing to have happen, under a lot of circumstances . I climb on Bashlins myself, so I have a special interest .

 

[MasterBlaster]

I have NO idea why it sheared. These spurs are about 3 years old. It was loose the other day(probably sheared then), and I tightened it up then. This morning it was loose again, and the screw had completely fallen out. I'm still gonna have to drill out the piece left in the gaff.

I'm a'gonna get that dam screw out!

 

[SilverBlue]

How much of the screw is still left Butch? Can you grab hold with vise grips and work the screw back and forth? if you feel that a pro would be better to handle the job then take it to a shop.Don't use heat to break the grip.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I've used my hot air gun to loosen Lock Tite in the past.

A machine shop could drill out the screw and then cleanup the threads too. Doing it by hand wouldn't be a good idea.

Tom

 

[Ryan Willock]

I had a bashilin screw turn loose one me once at 50' in a sweet gum. When I went to take a step I noticed that the gaff its self was sticking in the tree and was not in the climber after that I went to buckingham permanet gaffs.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Having those Wolf things, i learned to check connectors every day. I know it is supposed to be SOP, just like with the rest of the climbing gear, but I rarely did it.

The thing brobably losened up on you then had enough play to crack.

I was going to mention heating, and agree with Tom, take it to a shop. some things are not worth risking a slip of the tool.

 

[treeman82]

Could you tack weld a screwdriver to the screw? Or just attach something that will give you a handle to turn the screw out on its own?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
I have a set of old spurs, but I cannot get the screw to come out.

Half of ya'll ain't understanding my predicament; I'm trying to remove the INTACT screw from the OLD SPURS to REPLACE the sheared off one in my ORIGINAL spurs.

Tapping out the sheared off piece that is still in the gaff is a whole 'nother can of worms, but thats the easy part.

I still can't get that screw out. I need an impact screwdriver. Or a new screw.

 

[SilverBlue]

If you can't get it out your not gonna without heating and likely ruining it.. Contact Sherrill and while you are waiting get the sheared bolt out. I am sure that if you could find a sutable temporary bolt at a hardware store it would sufice for a while, just make sure you can safely climb ok?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Yea, I'm gonna go looking for a good screw tomorrow.


:angel:

 

[NeTree]

Just WELD the darn thing

 

[Lumberjack]

I agree, weld it. You can build the weld up and use a pair of vice grips to turn it, others may weld a bolt on it so that they can use a wrench. I would try heating it up, and letting wax drip on it. It will be sucked into the treads like when you are soldering. Then reheat the treads, but try to minamize the heat to the bolt (if you can), then use a impact driver, and knock the hello out of it.

That has worked on stubborn fasteners. if it don't break out the welder. Either add material and get a grip on it, or weld the shank to the gaffs. Make sure it is safe tho. Might not outa weld it on tho.

Carl