Replacing millard fly screens- getting the winder

[Deleted]

So I am replacing, well trying to replace the fly screens on our millard. I have the spline the fly and grommets, however the winders are proving an issue. The grub screws are essentially stuck. Either rusted or corroded in. I have tried to drill Them out. Still stuck. I am worries if I kept drilling there will be no wonder left. Which is a problem Bc they are so very hard to find.
Any ideas or help would be appreciated

[millard1399]

G'day millard1979,

Yes, getting the grub screws out of these winder handles is a real pain in the butt. The "ideal" way to get them out is to apply some gentle heat to the grub screw, which makes it expand in the handle. You then remove the source of heat, and when the grub screw cools it contracts and breaks the corrosion bond. Then the screw can be screwed out.

Now, all of that is easier said than done. I had removed all of the winder boxes from the window frames when I did all mine, but if you're leaving your winder boxes in position, then applying heat to the handle is not so easy without burning other things around it.

A pin-point butane gas burner (along the lines of this ebay item ) would give localised heating to the grub screw.

Any screws that you have stuffed up already, may still be removed with a suitable sized "easy out" (like this set ), but you have to get the size that suits the grub screw diameter.

For replacement grub screws, go looking for the correct size in hobby shops, who sell them for kits and toys (for example, this one ).

If all of that seems "too daunting" and you want a simple fix, just cut the old flyscreen away from the handle as best you can. You'll probably have to cut the old eyelet in half with a pair of boltcutters or aviation snips ( like these ), or a hacksaw. Leave the winder handle as it is, and don't even bother trying to get the grub screw out.

Place the new flyscreen in position, but don't (obviously) put a new eyelet into the screen. Just cut a slit from the edge of the screen, and a small hole for the winder shaft to fit through. Then push the edge of the screen into the aluminium frame channel as per normal, and fix it in position with the spline. You'll still have a small split showing from the handle shaft to the edge of the flyscreen, but only really small insects will find their way through it.

Hope this helps. Let me know if it all goes pear-shaped and you need a couple of replacement winders. Somewhere in the shed I've got a couple that I got off kiwijim about two years ago, but if you've seen my shed you'll realise it would take me another couple of years to find them again.

cheers,
Al.