How to extract broken screw - Rolleicord V

[blee1996]

Hi, what are the best ways to extract a broken screw in a camera? A sad story: I was cleaning up my Rolleicord V for sale, and in order to make it "perfect" I tried to tighten the screws that hold the backdoor hinge catch. But alas, the screw head broke inside the camera body. Besides kicking myself, what would be your advice for the best course of action? Thanks in advance.

I attach two photos: first show the door hinge catch and screw, second showing the broken screw head stuck inside the camera.

 

[Don_ih]

Can you access the other end of the screw, either by removing the back or removing the top of the camera? If so, you might be able to turn the screw using needle nose pliers.

Otherwise, I would drill it out.

 

[OAPOli]

Simplest is to drill it out. The screw is in brass and with a sharp drill you can do it with a hand chuck.

If you have a carbide scribe you can try to carve a slot for a flat blade screwdriver.

 

[BrianShaw]

Most people don't have this, but an engraving graver, specifically a flat graver, would easily cut a substitute slot.

And @blee1996 ... accept my sincere commiseration. Be cautious, though, that screw doesn't match the other screw and could be an improper substitute. I'm not sure which is the correct screw, though, or if they were even intended to be the same. You can propbably verify by comparing with the other side. No long ago I had a situation where the wrong screw was crammed into a hole and even without breaking it the replacement was nearly impossible because the threads were totally mangled.

Also check the threads of our resident camera fix-it guy. I'm sure that he must have addressed removal of broken screws already.

 

[bdial]

If you can get a left-handed drill bit that small, it will probably back out the screw as you are drilling.
As mentioned, using the bit in a hand chuck would probably be best. If you can’t get a left-hand bit, drilling it with successively larger bits until you can pick out the remains of the screw is probably the method you are facing.
Is it a blind hole or is the back side accessible?

 

[Dan Daniel]

You can try a sewing needle to grab the top of the break and spin it out. Considering that you were tightening, probably in there pretty good. Drilling it out with a smaller diameter bit and then digging out the remaining threads is probably the best bet. Fortunately in use the screw isn't under much pressure so if you have a replacement (it is shouldered so it sits proud and the catch can rotate) it doesn't need to be super tight. A little blue loctite should fill it and hold it fine.

 

[blee1996]

Thank you all for the consolation and good advices. I will think through it, observe more, and plan the actions starting from least risky. I will try not to make the situation worse.

 

[4season]

I'd invest a few bucks into a proper screw extractor. I think I got mine from a Chinese eBay seller (wasn't seeing similar items today though), but here are some others which ought to work:
https://www.esslinger.com/search.php?search_query=screw extractor
I regard extractors as consumable items, as the serrated ends are subject to a lot of wear and tear, but have been able to get several uses out of the things.

Edit: Found the good stuff on the 'Bay using the search term (d'oh) "watch screw extractor":
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305265493245

 

[blee1996]

Good news! I was able to extract the broken screw, and replace it with a new one!

Thanks @Dan Daniel for his needle suggestion: luckily the broken screw head was not tight, and can be extracted by carefully and slowly turn it using a very small and sharp needle. I was also able to find a good replacement screw head from my parts bin: occasionally it is good to be a hoarder.

 

[AnselMortensen]

Congratulations!

 

[Dan Daniel]

Great. I was told that trick by Eric Henderson of Pentax repair fame when I tried to remove the screw holding a self-timer lever on an ME Super. Without realizing that it was reverse threaded I've tried it a few more times, some successes, some failures.