Warning: A stripped bolt on a Cessna 172's cowling latch almost ruined my Friday

I was doing a routine pre-flight check yesterday afternoon and the forward latch just wouldn't budge. Ended up having to drill it out carefully and re-tap the hole, which took an extra two hours. What's your go-to method for dealing with seized fasteners on aluminum airframes?

3 comments

3 Comments

xena_hernandez983d ago

Honestly, have you tried a good penetrating oil and some heat before you go straight to drilling?

the_max3d ago

My old shop swore by a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF for a week, then a few taps with a brass punch.

abbyf793d ago

Remember my buddy tried that exact mix @the_max mentioned.