so i'm breaking down a 51e i got a few weeks ago and a pflueger patriarch spinning reel and each of them has 1 screw that is so $#$#$ tight it won't budge. usually i can just tick it with a pliers with the screwdriver in place but these won't budge. any suggestions w/o stripping the screw?

also for those of you that own/worked on pflueger patriarchs, why is there a spring attached to a plastic spacer that is attached to a bushing on the spool shaft? i can't figure out its purpose.

Take a hammer and lightly tap the end of the screw driver while it in the head of the screw. Sometimes that will help to break it free.

tried it. these things won't budge

If thats a spinning reel then that spring is related to the anti reverse lever.

there's 2 of them. i'm used to shimanos so this is a big odd looking.

Spray the screw with wd40, pb blaster, or buster and let it sit overnight.

I'm not sure if any of those are corrosive enough to melt plastic or not. The PB Blaster might act as a solvent if left on too long and might damage plastic side plates on reels. Again, I don't know but it's something to think about.

I don't work on reels, I usually break them. I would send the reel back to the mfg and let them deal with it, they break something they will replace it.

Try putting the reel in the freezer for awhile. Other choice, will a drop of Liquid Wrench work?

No freezing, no hammer, no solvent.... Apply a bit of heat from a soldering iron to the head of the screw, and use a long shaft #0 Phillips head screw driver.

No freezing, no hammer, no solvent.... Apply a bit of heat from a soldering iron to the head of the screw, and use a long shaft #0 Phillips head screw driver.

this worked. Thanks.

Cool.