Phase 1: cleaning. Complete.

[LM49]

Only 1 of the 6 tabs to connect the back to the front actually are functional. I am in the process of drilling out foreign screws in 2 of the tabs with a metal drill bit. A few others are broken on the inside I believe. Are there any posts or tricks or options to fix this? The cassette door, and front knobs also prevent the box from coming apart. Although if I try to open the cassette door, I have to pinch the front and back of the box to ensure that the Cassette door opens when eject is pressed. Any advice or options are much appreciated.

I'm a bit late to the party here but how did the drilling on the posts go? I have a little advice that might help you or someone else in the future. As you have certainly learned; this is a very difficult broken screw extraction. A drill bit always wants to take the path of least resistance which is the softer plastic rather than the screw. To make matters worse the smaller drill bits are very flexible and they generate some heat which may also make matters worse if it gets hot enough to melt plastic. My best advice is is to use left-handed drill bits. With a left-handed bit the drilling force will also be working to turn the broken screw out rather than seating it deeper like a right-hand drill will. It's hard to find good quality left drill bits but you want the highest quality you can find. The ones at the auto parts stores are generally poor quality.

I'm curious about how this broken screw extraction went and if you were successful. I hope it worked out. I wonder if anyone has had success with installing some new posts? There are some really good epoxy puttys available.

 

[Jboulukos]

I'm a bit late to the party here but how did the drilling on the posts go? I have a little advice that might help you or someone else in the future. As you have certainly learned; this is a very difficult broken screw extraction. A drill bit always wants to take the path of least resistance which is the softer plastic rather than the screw. To make matters worse the smaller drill bits are very flexible and they generate some heat which may also make matters worse if it gets hot enough to melt plastic. My best advice is is to use left-handed drill bits. With a left-handed bit the drilling force will also be working to turn the broken screw out rather than seating it deeper like a right-hand drill will. It's hard to find good quality left drill bits but you want the highest quality you can find. The ones at the auto parts stores are generally poor quality.

I'm curious about how this broken screw extraction went and if you were successful. I hope it worked out. I wonder if anyone has had success with installing some new posts? There are some really good epoxy puttys available.

I think I fixed one of the two that were messed up and had incorrect screws lodged in them. I forgot how I got the one out though. I may have chipped some of the plastic from the back side of the tab. Don’t remember. Either way, one screw tab not working is not a big deal. It feels secure.