Hitachi SATA hard drive won't fit enclosure

[pm-r]

Might be better if they were italic, or underlined, in addition for those who have that condition.

That example is much better even for those with more normal vision and certainly better than the method so often used such as in yout #6 post.


- Patrick
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[jmartin256]

But what jmartin describes is clearly a screw that requires an Allen wrench


Best would be for the OP to post a picture of the head of the screw so that we all know what he is dealing with.

Allen
View attachment 30230

Torx
View attachment 30231

 

[MacInWin]

That example is much better even for those with more normal vision and certainly better than the method so often used such as in yout #6 post.


- Patrick
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What is in #6 is the default for the site. I suppose they could change the default, but to get bold, underlined italic, just select the text of the link and then click on the three options before you post.

- - - Updated - - -

View attachment 30235

Are they all like that? It's hard to tell if it's hex or torn out Torx.

 

[jmartin256]

Yes, they are all like that. Here is a different one.

 

[MacInWin]

Ok, it looks like they are hex heads. So an Allen wrench of appropriate size would do to get them out cleanly. You can get an Allen wrench at any hardware store. You haven't said where you are, but Home Depot or Lowe's will have them, as will any hardware store. They come in both Metric and Imperial sizes, so I would take that to the store with you to get the right size. You can also get a ring of them in various sizes. I find them handy to have around in both Metric and Imperial sizes.

 

[jmartin256]

Ok, thanks, I tried Lowe's and they gave me a metric Allen wrench with multiple sizes. The one that seemed to fit still didn't turn it. Maybe the Imperial would be a better fit.

 

[pm-r]

What is in #6 is the default for the site. I suppose they could change the default, but to get bold, underlined italic, just select the text of the link and then click on the three options before you post.

Yes it definitely seems to be the default format for a URL used at this site which seems a bit odd as in most other sites it's usually at least underlined if not in italics as well, and I always understood that an underlined URL was the default to indicate all it needs is to be clicked on.


BTW: Another option for getting decent tools is to purchase various hex bit sets that fit in a various handles or drivers like these:




PS: Avoid wasting time and money on really cheap sets. It's just not worth it and they can ruin the screws.


- Patrick
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[krs]

PS: Avoid wasting time and money on really cheap sets. It's just not worth it and they can ruin the screws.

From the pictures posted by the OP it looks as if the heads are already ruined.

Years ago I bought some bits that were especially designed to remove screws with a damaged head like these - That may be something the OP needs to find and use.

 

[jmartin256]

From the pictures posted by the OP it looks as if the heads are already ruined.

Years ago I bought some bits that were especially designed to remove screws with a damaged head like these - That may be something the OP needs to find and use.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I finally got them loose with pliers!

 

[dtravis7]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I finally got them loose with pliers!

I was going to suggest a very small pair of ViceGrips on the heads of the screw. You beat me! Glad you got it done.

 

[pm-r]

From the pictures posted by the OP it looks as if the heads are already ruined.

Years ago I bought some bits that were especially designed to remove screws with a damaged head like these - That may be something the OP needs to find and use.

Yeah, not exactly in the most pristine shape. And yes, I can guarantee you that there will some type of tool available for almost anything you can imagine doing, but sometimes the trouble is finding them.

And just in case, I'm assuming that the screws involved are actually designed for counter-clockwise rotation when removing, and I trust that the OP knows that. Turn lefty for loosy, turn righty for tighty!!! Except when they are left hand threads, then the reverse applies.



- Patrick
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[Slydude]

I just saw the pictures of those damaged heads and Was about to to suggest pliers but I see you discovered the solution on your own. Nice work.

For those interested a decent pair of needle nosed pliers should ve sufficient. Obviously it does not need to be a pair with large jaws for these screws.

 

[chscag]

Except when they are left hand threads, then the reverse applies.

You might be old enough to remember that some autos came with left-handed lug nuts on the wheels. I'm trying to think which autos had them back then but anyway, the idea was that the lug nuts would not come loose when driving. Was comical though watching some poor soul trying to change a flat tire on a wheel with left handed threads.

Some ceiling fans and certain other fans have the blades bolted on with left handed threads. I have two of those here at home. I always have to remember that when removing the blades to clean them.

 

[pm-r]

You might be old enough to remember that some autos came with left-handed lug nuts on the wheels.

Yup, sure am old enough, and some cars still do, just as lots of high end cars did in the '60s and '70s when I worked in a Speciality Car Garage, and I think some still do, as did a lot of boats use left-hand thread nuts on their propeller hubs/nuts depending on whch way they generally rotated.



- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

I still think, based on the picture in #24, that the heads were hex, maybe imperial and not metric. Every time I've seen a stripped out Torx head the result is basically round, not hex shaped. And I have seen hex heads on drive mountings before, particularly if the drive was installed by after-market technicians. For the OP and anybody who may stumble on this thread later on, an Allen-type hex wrench should just fit snugly in the hole, with no wiggle at all. That way the full face of the wrench is pressing on the full face of the screw on all six sides. If it wiggles before you start you will round off the hole without taking it out.

Good job getting it done. Pliers were going to be my next recommendation.

 

[pm-r]

I still think, based on the picture in #24, that the heads were hex, maybe imperial and not metric....
For the OP and anybody who may stumble on this thread later on, an Allen-type hex wrench should just fit snugly in the hole, with no wiggle at all. That way the full face of the wrench is pressing on the full face of the screw on all six sides. If it wiggles before you start you will round off the hole without taking it out.

+1.
I totally agree.

Also, needle nose pliers are not the best tool for such a job, they usually can't exert sufficient gripping force. Blunt or stubby nose designs would be a better solution but not as good as using the proper good fitting tool, and of good quality.

I've seen many cheap quality tools make a relatively easy job turn things into a horribly hard one.



- Patrick
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[Slydude]

I resorted to pliers because the heads on the screws in question were already ruined. The tool I had for removing stripped screws was really to large for that size screw. Unfortunately the smaller vise grip pliers I have were nowhere to be found. Haven't had much luck with blunt nose pliers for this job.

 

[pm-r]

I resorted to pliers because the heads on the screws in question were already ruined.

I just mentioned needle nose pliers specifically, for not being the most ideal tool for the particular job, but there are a lot of different designs that could work well that all go under the name of pliers.


- Patrick
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[Slydude]

Agreed. The pliers I used were similar to those sometimes used to make jewelry. These have serrated jaws similar to the vise grip pliers Dennis mentioned but the jaws don't lock in place.