I've accidentally over-tightened the screw for my heatsink on my SSD, and now the screw won't budge at all. I want to get the SSD out, especially since I've backed up my files, but I'm stuck. I've tried using a rubber band trick with no success, and needle nose pliers won't work because the screw head is flush with the heatsink on my Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX v2 motherboard. My next plan is to try the superglue method, but I have a few questions before I proceed:
- Has anyone successfully used this method to remove stubborn M.2 screws?
- How do you choose the right size bit to glue?
- Any tips for increasing torque when trying to turn the screw?
- Has anyone applied too much torque and ended up making things worse?
- If the glue trick fails, what should I do next? I really want to avoid using a dremel to prevent metal chips from messing up other components.
- Should I attempt another method before trying the superglue, and could the glue create issues down the line if it doesn't work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
If you have no success with the glue, consider drilling. Use a 2mm bit to drill straight down onto the screw, which can be effective for getting it out even if you end up beheading the screw. Just be careful not to drill too deep and damage the motherboard.
Using glue is probably your best bet here, especially if you're trying to avoid using a dremel. Just make sure to clean the screw head with some alcohol or electrical cleaner before applying the glue. If you can grip the standoff with some angled needle nose pliers, try gluing your screwdriver tip to the screw head and turning both the screw and the standoff in opposite directions until it loosens. If you have an extra standoff, don't worry if the screw breaks; you can just replace it later. I recommend switching to Torx or Allen screws in the future to avoid issues like this.
I had a similar problem before! Tightening down the surrounding screws first might help in your case, as sometimes it can relieve the pressure on the stubborn screw. But yeah, if you're going the glue route, definitely let it set for at least 24 hours. I tried super glue once but was too impatient and it didn't work. Waiting really does make a difference!
That makes sense. I'll make sure to be patient this time. I have the gluing method lined up, but I’ll try tightening the others first too.
You could look into getting a specialized M.2 screw extractor. They're pretty inexpensive on Amazon and very easy to use. That way, you won't have to worry about the superglue getting messy. Just remove the screw with that and replace it with a fresh one afterwards!
I had a similar situation where I ended up breaking the screw while trying to remove it, so make sure you're okay with that possibility! Have a backup plan to clean up if that happens. A hex screw would definitely be a better choice next time.
Yeah, I'm definitely considering switching all my screws to hex or flat-head ones in the future. It just makes more sense for small screws!
Got it! I'll make sure to clean it first before giving it a go. If I can't loosen the standoff, what should I do?