[gaheroy]

So I got my DDM short throw shifter and went to install it over the weekend. Until it snapped my allen wrench. I went and bought another and tried adding heat to it today with a lighter, still no luck and didnt want to snap another wrench. Anyone have any tips to get it loose other than heat?

I have seen a few videos on YouTube that make it look so incredibly easy which is very frustrating.

 

[agent008]

Some people have had success tightening the allen nut a little bit (a few thousandths) and then loosening again. While loosening bear in mind the loctite has a kind of rubbery texture so you should increase your force on the wrench slow and steady. It will subside with a rubbery feel to it on the first turn.

 

[Kappasky]

I didn’t have issue with mine. I used a ratchet with an Allen head socket. I’ve seen people use the tip of a soldering iron to heat the Allen head to melt the loctite, then use your wrench. The soldering iron prevents an open flame in the car

 

[HHGadget]

The allen socket on a wrench is probably the best solution.
You should be able to pick one up that fits your socket wrench as a single if you do not wish to purchase a whole set. Sadly, this is one of the few SAE allen keys in my experience with this car. Most others are metric.

 

[gaheroy]

Thanks for the quick replies, I will try these this week. supposed to rain tomorrow so need to cover it back up and go find a 3/16 allen wrench socket.

 

[kgschlosser]

A lighter??? That's not going to do anything. You need to get a torch on that thing. use one of those butane torch lighters you get at a convenience store. This way the flame won't be really large.

 

[kgschlosser]

Oh the shifter is a whole lot of metal and it is going to take a while to get the thing hot. Once you get it hot then spray cold water on the screw. This rapid expansion and then contraction is what will break screw loose.

 

[Wunderkind]

I just dabbed some nail polish remover. Let sit and unscrewed it. It was quite easy. I used to eat Marmite. 💪

 

[TomatoSoup]

Mmmmmm, Marmite on toast.

 

[marksbug]

some people swear on heating then using wax on the threads,it sucks the wax in and usually comes out. many machine shops do this to engine block oil gally plugs. I dont know if this will work on a shifter or not. but be sure to have the best fitting wrenck you can find, also a quality one so it dont just screw up the screw hex.

 

[kgschlosser]

I just dabbed some nail polish remover. Let sit and unscrewed it. It was quite easy. I used to eat Marmite. 💪

This would work but you have to be super careful not to get any drips on anything. It will melt plastic, as in all plastic. it will also take any kind of painted on finish off, as in all types of painted on finishes.

But a little melted plastic is better then a lot of melted plastic (car-b-que)

 

[Wunderkind]

Q-tips.

 

[kgschlosser]

are you sure???

 

[agent008]

Doesn't necessarily need to be Dumbo's q-tips...

 

[gaheroy]

This would work but you have to be super careful not to get any drips on anything. It will melt plastic, as in all plastic. it will also take any kind of painted on finish off, as in all types of painted on finishes.

But a little melted plastic is better then a lot of melted plastic (car-b-que)

That's what I was worried about at first bringing a lighter in to help. After it twisted and snapped the wrench I figured I would need some help and was careful where the flame was going but still not something I felt comfortable doing.

At least now I have a lot of good options to try. I read online WD-40 could work as well, but I am a bit weary of that. Mostly since it'll be tough getting it where it needs to be without making a complete mess.

 

[agent008]

I used to eat Marmite. 💪

An acquired taste. When I first tried it I thought it was a kind of chocolate or hazelnut spread (think Nutella). Boy was I in for a surprise... Later on I ended up liking it.

 

[TomatoSoup]

This would work but you have to be super careful not to get any drips on anything. It will melt plastic, as in all plastic.

Not quite true. It will melt styrene plastics, like ABS and polystyrene. It won't touch HPDEs, Polyethylenes, TPEs, Polycarbonates, etc.

Having said that, there are a number of ABS plastics used in our cars, so there is that

In any case, as others have said, you just need more heat than a lighter could manage. Just put a few layers of aluminum foil around the base to protect the boot and plastics and use a torch to get it properly hot.

 

[wspohn]

We use a culinary butane torch for cooking - they work well.

 

[gaheroy]

We use a culinary butane torch for cooking - they work well.

Smart move, afterwards make some Creme Brulee with it!

 

[wspohn]

Exactly!
It delivers a restricted easily localized hot flame so you are less likely to brulee your Solstice when heating the shifter.