Stripped tri-wing screw. HALP.

[orvn]

So I stripped a tri-wing when replacing a Macbook Pro (13" mid '09 unibody) battery. I do have a small triwing screwdriver, but this screw had been tampered with before.

I tried using a rubber band, but it just broke through.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

That's some serious damage, how did you manage that?!

Get a replacement philips screw of the same thread and length and use that instead.

EDIT: Which screw are you trying to replace, the one on the battery, or the one that's been stripped to a complete circle? If it's the second, your only choice is to drill it out to the point where you can remove the battery and then replace it after that.

 

[Macman45]

Whatever You Do

And I think the Philips screw is the way to go......BE CAREFUL. This could easily end in disaster if too much force is use or ( the screwdriver slips) if you can't get it to bite, make a small pilot hole using a steel awl or similar.

 

[blueroom]

A 2009 MacBook battery should have lasted longer than this.

PS watch out for metal filings while drilling.

 

[lippyt]

I would use a SOG tool to fix this. Best bet is to find a sharp tipped plier to remove the screw.

 

[nippyjun]

I would cut a slot on the top so,that I could use a regular flat tip screwdriver to remove it.

 

[orvn]

So my awesome wife surprised me and dug the screw out for me. She dug a moat-like trench around the screw with grooming scissors (the little ones that come in nail cutting kits) and then was able to get a firm enough drip to unscrew it with small utility pliers.

Fortunately, the underlying surface was plastic, not the core of the lithium battery- otherwise a fire might have been ignited!

That's some serious damage, how did you manage that?!

Get a replacement philips screw of the same thread and length and use that instead.

EDIT: Which screw are you trying to replace, the one on the battery, or the one that's been stripped to a complete circle? If it's the second, your only choice is to drill it out to the point where you can remove the battery and then replace it after that.

I was trying to remove the screw that's still inside the socket. The other one is just there for the sake of comparative example.

A 2009 MacBook battery should have lasted longer than this.
PS watch out for metal filings while drilling.

Well, my battery kind of exploded into a slightly more bloated version of itself, applying pressure to the aluminum housing and trackpad. Also it's three years old and I use my machine like a beast.

I would cut a slot on the top so,that I could use a regular flat tip screwdriver to remove it.

That's an awesome suggestion, didn't get to it, but will know for next time.

I think using a much thicker rubber band might have worked also, I just couldn't find one

 

[Lolito]

where can i buy some new tri-wing bolts? perhaps there are other bolts with same dimensions but without the tri-wing head?