gear box collar set screws will not come lose! Any ideas?

[coyoteugly1]

Hello all.  I'm brand new to this forum and could use some help.  I just picked up a 2000ish superchexx for cheap.  Thought I might update/customize it in my own Arizona Coyotes image (Canadiens please don't laugh!).  I thought I would first start with new gears and bearings (the gears seemed a little sloppy and loud).  Seems simple enough right??  WRONG!  Only 1 out of 10 the gearbox collars would come off.  I'm using a high quality #1 square drive, WD-40, vise grips, and all the strength I can muster!  What gives?  I can get some of the "rod side" of the collars off but the "metal on metal" side of the collar and gearboxes themselves will not budge.  I don't want to strip the heads out of the set screws but this is ridiculous!  I've searched hi and low and have found nobody else with this problem.  Can I be the only one?  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[90sbluesfan]

I'm "restoring" an original Chexx machine and had a similar problem with a couple of collar screws. Try using penetrating oil. WD-40 makes it, along with other brands. Spray the snot out of the joint...top, bottom, all around. Then, take a screwdriver and place it on the head of the screw. Lightly tap that with a hammer. You're trying to help the oil get in the threads. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then try to back it out with your square drive.

It worked for me. Hopefully it will for you too. Good luck!

[tookoolsc]

Dont loosen one screw all the way out. Do quarter turn on each screw evenly. When you undo one completely. It puts all the pressure on the other screw which makes it difficult to turn and causes the screw head to strip