Almost new grill - cannot remove screws to install folding front shelf

[mooky]

Hi all,

I have an almost-new 575. I have had it 2 weeks and done only 3 cooks with it.
In using it I really found myself wanting a front shelf - so I bought the accessory.
Trouble is... I cannot remove the existing screws to mount the brackets to the body.
They are either fitted with red loctite red or seized. I cannot budge them.
I have put a lot of pressure & force on them (screwdriver) - I am concerned that I will end up stripping the phillips head (why are they not hex head?).

Anyone else had this issue?

What was the solution? Impact driver? Install while the grill is new?

 

[mooky]

Ok, answering my own question here:

Get the biggest Phillips head screwdriver that will fit. If there is any play at all, you will struggle and/or strip the phillips head.
Jam the screwdriver in (give it a little tap, if necessary) and turn as hard as you can. It will take a lot of force, but the seal will crack.
I had an electrician's screwdriver with very grippy rubber handle and had to use a lot of torque (I am not a small guy).

If any Traeger staff read this, please recommend upgrading to hex head screws there (like the rest of the assembly)

 

[RustyJake]

Ok, answering my own question here:

Get the biggest Phillips head screwdriver that will fit. If there is any play at all, you will struggle and/or strip the phillips head.
Jam the screwdriver in (give it a little tap, if necessary) and turn as hard as you can. It will take a lot of force, but the seal will crack.
I had an electrician's screwdriver with very grippy rubber handle and had to use a lot of torque (I am not a small guy).

If any Traeger staff read this, please recommend upgrading to hex head screws there (like the rest of the assembly)

Thanks for your update.
Just an FYI, this forum is not affiliated with Traeger, so there's no direct line from here to anyone that can impart any changes. We are just a bunch of Traeger enthusiasts that share information, such as you just did with how you soled the issue
If you want to make that suggestion to Traeger, try one of their support lines or go to their Facebook page and make the suggestion there.
Thanks again for your update, it will more than likely help someone in the future

 

[manwithtools]

If anyone else is watching this, an impact screw driver is a great tool to loosen stubborn screws like this. Vessel #2 Impact Screwdriver

Every strike of a hammer on the head of the handle causes 12 degree of counter clockwise rotation of the driver shaft without the user rotating the handle. Just use your hand to hold the screwdriver firmly in the screwhead.. They work awesome!