Posted: 26 Jul 2015 at 4:49pm
Replacing navigation lenses, and am destroying screws in removing them. I am sure they can be replaced, but tried to re-install them and found one can not be secured. What do these thread into? Can I just go back with a larger screw, or is there something back there besides fiberglass with a hole in it that needs to be restored? Thanks for any help available.


Posted: 28 Jul 2015 at 8:03am
Not sure what you mean 'navigation lens"? usually, if the old screw won't grab in the old fiberglass hole its because the threads in the hole are stripped. A larger diameter screw should work, provided the hole in the 'navigation lens" body is large enough to accept the larger screw.

Otherwise, fill the hole in the fiberglass with epoxy and drill a small hole, smaller diameter than the screw you have, and drive in the screw which should tap itself into the hole.

Good Luck
Ron


Posted: 28 Jul 2015 at 11:51am
Thanks Ron, I got Nav lens off an entry on the web site. The running lights on my dolphin have faded (green)or missing (red) lenses. The only damage to the screws is where they receive the screw driver, so new screws will be permanent solution. The epoxy or oversized screw answered my question. But ya say the fiberglass hole had threads originally? I thought it would have just taken like a sheet metal screw.


Posted: 28 Jul 2015 at 6:24pm
I would think that the threads in the fiberglass hole were originally formed by the screw - like a self tapping sheet metal screw would