How do I get these screws out?

1984 kawasaki kx250 front brake master cylinder. I'm pretty sure in the 30 years of this bikes life these screws have never been taken out. At this point they're pretty much ruined. So anyone wiser than me please tell me how to get these screws out. I need to bleed the brakes...

 

I don't know to much either, but if the correct screw won't work anymore or stripped it. Only choice to me would be drill it, and use a screw extractor on it.

 

Had this problem with a few bikes. Drill the heads off then pop the cover off. With the cover off there will be a nub of the screw sticking up, they'll come right out. Use vise grips if you like

 

You could use left fluted drills and use a reversible drill; be very careful and slow.
Once you get down a little the drill may bite it and remove it.

 

It will be easiest just to use a drill and drill the heads of the screws off.

 

Ditto!!!,, and the age of the bike is not the problem, I have had similar situations with many bikes, new & old, I am surprised when I can screw one out, Good Luck

 

Did you try smacking the screwdriver with a hammer as you tried to unscrew it?

 

The master brake cylinder appears to be made out of aluminum. The screws are galvanized steel? Stainless steel perhaps? Unfortunately, when two dissimilar metals are in direct contact with each other it can cause corrosion.

I used to work on swimming pool pumps many years ago. The motors for these typically had aluminum housings. This combined with steel screws and the presence of chlorine made for really bad corrosion.

After you drill the heads off and have nubs left over, try wiggling them both directions until they feel loose enough to back all the way out. You don't want to strip the aluminum housing. Penetrating oil might help as well as a little heat from a propane torch. Just make sure you do not heat the aluminum housing up too much as you could easily melt it.

When you finally get around to reinstalling new screws be sure to use some anti-seize compound on the threads of the screws.

Also, try to find screws that use an allen wrench or a Torx bit.

 

Impact screwdriver
They sell them at sears or harbor freight.
Almost always works for me

 

use ^^this after using a cut off wheel to make a small gouge for a flat head screw driver in the screw top

 

bingo

 

Use this...

 

Thanks for all the input guys! I already tried using an impact screwdriver and it didn't break them loose. I think I'll try drilling them out tomorrow.

 

What is this?

 

It's a stripped screw bit.