Help needed to remove my shaft from FW wood

[Andygolderson]

Hello, 

 

Looking for some advice and tips to try at home. I'm in foriegn country where it's difficult to know or find a good club fitter or reputable store.

 

I've got a cobra FW wood and i think the problem is that i might have used a TaylorMade wrench to torque it some day. It's now completely stuck in the hozzle.

The screw somes completely out and the shaft is very very firmly stuck in place. The shaft is graphite.

 

So far it tried;

tapping (smashing) the but end of the handle on hard carpet.

using WD40 multiple times to losen up the hole

Tried using 70% alchohol in the hole to burn out any dirt.

no luck trying to pull out the head.

Put the head and hozzle in hot water to try to expand it

Taking out the screw, putting an ellen key inside and try to hammer the shaft out

Half in screw and slapping torque wrench with the hand to push it out.

 

Much appreciated if you've got any tips.

[Stuart_G]

Can't tell you what might have caused it to become stuck, but using a TM wrench is not what caused the problem.   Most of the OEM wrenches can be used interchangeably without problems.

 

All good ideas that you've already tried.  Only other one I have is go one step further than the hot water,  use a torch on the head (but not on the adapter).  The idea is to expend the adapter bore in the head but not the adapter.  The hot water might not have been hot enough to do the job.   Then repeat the allen key and hammer Obviously you have to be careful about overheating the shaft itself.  

 

If that doesn't work, it might be time to use a shaft extractor to pull the shaft out of the adapter and at least salvage that as it's very likely that it means that both the head and adapter are damaged beyond repair.

 

 

[JCAG]

12 hours ago, Andygolderson said:

Hello, 

 

Looking for some advice and tips to try at home. I'm in foriegn country where it's difficult to know or find a good club fitter or reputable store.

 

I've got a cobra FW wood and i think the problem is that i might have used a TaylorMade wrench to torque it some day. It's now completely stuck in the hozzle.

The screw somes completely out and the shaft is very very firmly stuck in place. The shaft is graphite.

 

So far it tried;

tapping (smashing) the but end of the handle on hard carpet.

using WD40 multiple times to losen up the hole

Tried using 70% alchohol in the hole to burn out any dirt.

no luck trying to pull out the head.

Put the head and hozzle in hot water to try to expand it

Taking out the screw, putting an ellen key inside and try to hammer the shaft out

Half in screw and slapping torque wrench with the hand to push it out.

 

Much appreciated if you've got any tips.

 

Unless you know otherwise someone might have epoxied the shaft/adapter in the head.

[mcounci2]

I would pull the shaft, and then find a long screw with the same thread as the adapter screw.  Clamp the head in a vise (use pads to not scratch the head), bottom out the screw in the adapter, and smack the screw with a hammer.  If that doesn't dislodge the adapter, heat the head with a torch and go back to hammering.  I'm with a pervious poster.... sounds like somebody glued your adapter in. 

Edited September 4, 2020 by mcounci2

[Andygolderson]

Thanks for the feedback, actually, the shaft has never been glued.

 

I bought it from E-bay and had adjusted it before many times without any problems. One day it was just stuck after playing a round or practising with it. I did noticed some kind of white poweder around the "window" on the hozel, where you see the loft / degree. I assumed it was some kind of sand residue from the dirt.

 

I'll give it a try with some fire from the cooker only on the hozzel to get some freedom. I think with the water it's either not hot enough, or it's heating both parts together. (at some point i used boiling water)

 

Last resort would be to find a shop and pull it, but i had hoped to be able to keep and interchange it out. I just ordered a new shaft to try which will take maybe 6 weeks to arrive, so i prefer not to be 3 wood-less for the entire time ?

[Stuart_G]

White powder might be aluminum oxide, corrosion from the aluminum.   It's not very common at all with the adapters but not impossible in the right conditions and if the anodized coating got damaged or worn.    No dirt is going to get in there enough to make it stick during normal play although something might have gotten in during the last time you tried to adjust it, although typically it would feel very different when you re-installed the head.

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by Stuart_G

[Andygolderson]

Thanks @Stuart_G, I can't say there was any friction or noticeable difference. It's a mystery.

Today I finally found someone with a shop and some tools.

After 30 minutes with all sorts, he couldn't get it off either.

Eventually, he just slipped off the shaft, leaving the tip stuck in and he swapped in the other shaft.

 

I guess that's one solution ?

 

will try to sell the previous shaft without the tip.

[Ri_Redneck]

Put enough white vinegar in a bucket to cover the head above the hosel. Let it sit in there for 24 hrs and then try to knock it out. Aluminum Oxide does not dissolve in alcohol or water and heat doesn't do much to break it down either. Vinegar, however, will completely dissolve it over time. Then, install a new adapter on the shaft.

 

BT

[Andygolderson]

On 9/18/2020 at 2:02 AM, Ri_Redneck said:

Put enough white vinegar in a bucket to cover the head above the hosel. Let it sit in there for 24 hrs and then try to knock it out. Aluminum Oxide does not dissolve in alcohol or water and heat doesn't do much to break it down either. Vinegar, however, will completely dissolve it over time. Then, install a new adapter on the shaft.

 

BT

Something new, i like it 😄

Willing to give it a try, would still like to have the adjustability.

Why is it necessary to get a new adaptor? 

Thanks.

[Ri_Redneck]

If it's corroded, then it could be weakened and could fail. You don't want the head flying off and getting lost or injuring someone. Once you get the adapter to come out, clean the head bore (the hole the adapter fits inside) well so that any corrosion is removed. A wire hosel brush will do it. Then install a new adapter and you'll be all set.

 

BT

[Andygolderson]

I went for a second pass to the club fitter. handed him my club, hit a few balls on the range, and it was done. not sure what method he tried this time, but no questions asked 😛

 

WD-40 didn't work.

Vinegar bath didn't work

Heating up didn't work.

 

It was only some oxidised power, but amazing how it can stick in there tight.