I need help with a free spinning potentially cross-threaded screw.

[Finesavageboy2]

I have this Logitech G413 Gaming keyboard that I bought off of my cousin for $5. But there is a catch. These keyboards are known for their switch keys falling off because of poor soldering. This one is no exception. The space, escape, and F1 keys fell off, so that’s the reason i got it so cheap. I want to give it to a specialist to get it fixed because they are $80 new.
So trying to take it apart and assess the damage I found that one screw won’t come out. It spins freely in the same spot so I looked where the missing Escape key switch is and made a discovery. I don’t know how to put this but imma try. Basically there are two pieces of metal. The metal top cover and the metal cylinder that the screw goes in. I believe that these 2 things were pressed together and came apart, leaving it to spin freely in the same place. I was wondering how that would happen, so I was trying to grab the cylinder with tweezers and unscrew the screw but it still won’t come out. That lead me to possibly someone has been in the keyboard before and had tightened and/or cross-threaded it to where the cylinder separated from the top metal cover. I’ve tried everything that I could think of so can anybody help me fix this so I can get inside without damaging the motherboard?

 

[Cheetah928]

Free spins but doesn't come out? Find a way to put pressure onto the screw from the bottom side and unscrew from the top. Maybe try plyers? I find that it helps to push on it from the bottom while screwing so the screw grips.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Does it need to come out? If its not attached, can you split the case and aeparate without removing the screw at all?
Angled pliers would be my next thought too.
Use your teeth would prob be next.

 

[Finesavageboy2]

Free spins but doesn't come out? Find a way to put pressure onto the screw from the bottom side and unscrew from the top. Maybe try plyers? I find that it helps to push on it from the bottom while screwing so the screw grips.

Yes i tried pliers and putting pressure on it. No go. I can really use pliers because there is like a 3/16 of an inch so I was using tweezers.

Does it need to come out? If its not attached, can you split the case and aeparate without removing the screw at all?
Angled pliers would be my next thought too.
Use your teeth would prob be next.

Yeah it has to be removed because it is holding the motherboard to the plastic bottom cover and the motherboard is also connected to the metal top because of the switch keys. I do have angled pliers but they are to big.

 

[CertifiedMike]

There are precision pliers that likely could grab in there and do the job.
Not sure how far you want to take this.
Locktite is CA and works on metal. Its not something I'd use here tho for fear of drips or bonding the screw along with the stand off and the chassis.
You can grab the post with cutters too if you are gentle and don't cut thru.

 

[Finesavageboy2]

There are precision pliers that likely could grab in there and do the job.
Not sure how far you want to take this.
Locktite is CA and works on metal. Its not something I'd use here tho for fear of drips or bonding the screw along with the stand off and the chassis.
You can grab the post with cutters too if you are gentle and don't cut thru.

Yeah but the thing about that is they have to be angled because of how of a weird spot it is in. And to make it worse, there is an led light that sticks out so I have to be even more careful.
Honestly I’ll probably cut the plastic around the top of the bolt so I can take it apart. I’ve already drilled a hole on the side to try to gain more access to it, but that still didn’t work. I’d just have to find something to cut it with.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

If the support the screw provides isn't all that important, and its likely not, then a 'hole saw' just bigger than the screw will work. I've even used gasket punches heated with a torch to melt the plastic. Sounds crazy but it works.

 

[Finesavageboy2]

When my uncle got home I told him and he gave it a try. It took him 5 seconds. It finally came out with a pair of angled pliers that I asked him to bring from his work. We soldered them back but found out that the motherboard has a hairline crack. Well you can’t have everything. Everything else works except for the escape where the hairline crack is located. Thanks for the help! If it wasn’t for y’all, this thing I probably would’ve gave up on it.

 

[CertifiedMike]

When my uncle got home I told him and he gave it a try. It took him 5 seconds. It finally came out with a pair of angled pliers that I asked him to bring from his work. We soldered them back but found out that the motherboard has a hairline crack. Well you can’t have everything. Everything else works except for the escape where the hairline crack is located. Thanks for the help! If it wasn’t for y’all, this thing I probably would’ve gave up on it.

View attachment 241669

You know how the saying goes... there's no escape!

Nice job!!!