Question:
I am trying to remove and replace and existing deadbolt, but the allen nut that holds on the interior cover place is stripped out. How do you recommend I remove it?
Answer:
You might try a few mechanic tricks to remove the stripped out allen from your deadbolt lock.
1st, ensure you are not using an allen wrench with a ball on the end, the allen wrenches that are flat will give you more surface area to grip the screw head with and usually a little tap on the wrench with a bigger wrench to really seat it in the screw head will be enough to get the screw out.
Next, try using a metric allen wrench. Sometimes a metric allen is just slightly bigger and it might bite on the screw long enough to get it out.
Finally, try using a jewelers flat head or Philips head screw driver. A flat head especially is tapered and might be able to be jammed in there enough to get a hold of the screw and turn it.
Depending on your tools available, you might also try a screw extractor in a cordless drill. A screw extractor has threads cut in it in the revers direction, so when you run the drill counter clockwise the screw extractor will bite harder in the screw head while it also attempts to turn the screw in the proper direction to loosen it from the deadbolt in your door.
