Since these Slingshot Vent screws are plastic, how tight should I tighten it? Three months of use and the O-ring on the screw was shot, and let some water in. Also I have stripped the head of the screw where the screwdriver fits in. Very cheap vent screw being plastic. Am I screwing it too tight for the O-ring to go bad that fast?

Could be. You only need to screw it until the o-ring is in contact. No further compression is necessary.

That said, these guys that are supplying plastic vent screws should be taken out and shot. When you order your replacement, order 4 of them.

I like everything that SS is doing in this sport, but not their use of titanium fasteners and plastic vent screws.

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segler said..
Could be. You only need to screw it until the o-ring is in contact. No further compression is necessary.

That said, these guys that are supplying plastic vent screws should be taken out and shot. When you order your replacement, order 4 of them.

I like everything that SS is doing in this sport, but not their use of titanium fasteners and plastic vent screws.

I think I'm tightening the screw 1/4-1/2 turn too much and squishing the O-ring up. Yep, I will order extras.

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segler said..
When you order your replacement, order 4 of them.

I guess you can't replace them with proper metal ones?

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lwalker said..

segler said..
When you order your replacement, order 4 of them.

I guess you can't replace them with proper metal ones?

Metal screw in plastic threads. I will probably strip out the plastic threads inside the board with a metal screw.

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MagicRide said..

lwalker said..

segler said..
When you order your replacement, order 4 of them.

I guess you can't replace them with proper metal ones?

Metal screw in plastic threads. I will probably strip out the plastic threads inside the board with a metal screw.

I believe most boards have plastic vents and use metal screws, but don't quote me on that.
if you stripped the head, you are tighten it too much or using a too small of a screwdriver. Small screwdriver will strip the head and make you over tighten the screw at the same time. If the head has a slot, you should use a pretty big flat screwdriver, even a penny (coin) might work.

I checked their website and the two vent screws they have come with slotted head. Try to use the thickest screwdriver. When you over-tighten, something can break. I wonder if they are using plastic screws because they prefer people complaining about weak 6 dollar vent plugs instead of people complaining about stripped vents which cost way more to repair.

I ordered one of these for that vent

www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/59272229?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Hand+Tools+-+PLA_sgfwsaxUb___164110844124_c_S&mkwid=sgfwsaxUb%7cdc&pcrid=164110844124&rd=k&product_id=59272229&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYL3BRDVARIsAF9E4GcJFuPM8ffuyaH5rpvwRoWoO_u-v9ox1gZ5mcaMOAXQGDaybEg0YBQaAhOJEALw_wcB

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thedoor said..
I ordered one of these for that vent

www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/59272229?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Hand+Tools+-+PLA_sgfwsaxUb___164110844124_c_S&mkwid=sgfwsaxUb%7cdc&pcrid=164110844124&rd=k&product_id=59272229&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYL3BRDVARIsAF9E4GcJFuPM8ffuyaH5rpvwRoWoO_u-v9ox1gZ5mcaMOAXQGDaybEg0YBQaAhOJEALw_wcB

Is that screwdriver a standard flat head or is it extra wide flat head?

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MagicRide said..

thedoor said..
I ordered one of these for that vent

www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/59272229?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Hand+Tools+-+PLA_sgfwsaxUb___164110844124_c_S&mkwid=sgfwsaxUb%7cdc&pcrid=164110844124&rd=k&product_id=59272229&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYL3BRDVARIsAF9E4GcJFuPM8ffuyaH5rpvwRoWoO_u-v9ox1gZ5mcaMOAXQGDaybEg0YBQaAhOJEALw_wcB

Is that screwdriver a standard flat head or is it extra wide flat head?

Its about 15 mm wide and is curved a bit like a coin. Wasn't cheap but at least it doesn't chew up the vent screw

You can find several models of that "Quarter Turn" type of screwdrivers on Amazon:
.
www.amazon.com/Racers-Speed-Shop-Fastener-Screwdriver/dp/B06W9KJFKN

Personally i have chosen to go with the Short Stubby model, as those are fitting easily into your foilbag and the bag with your screws/bolts for that. Including a broad tipped thick screwdriver for the vent. The Stubby from Stanley is great, as in its handle it can contain 6 bit tips. But the two standards here is all you need for your vent screw and then to screw in your pedestal plate into you finbox.

I use an ordinary table knife -- rounded wide head -- works better than anything else I've tried (much better than a screwdriver).

I just use a washer. That does require remembering to close the vent before mounting the foil, but I often forget to open the vent so..

(I store the vent screw in my 2-bolt mast base, so I can't forget to close it.)

Just ordered 3 vent screws yesterday. Should be set for a while. I will go to Home Depot to check out their screwdrivers tomorrow. I have a small case that holds my Allen wrenches for the foil hardware and I put both slapper board and foil board vent screws in that case, so it's not forgotten. That case fits in a bigger case with both Philips and flathead screwdrivers with down haul tool.

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MagicRide said..
Just ordered 3 vent screws yesterday. Should be set for a while. I will go to Home Depot to check out their screwdrivers tomorrow. I have a small case that holds my Allen wrenches for the foil hardware and I put both slapper board and foil board vent screws in that case, so it's not forgotten. That case fits in a bigger case with both Philips and flathead screwdrivers with down haul tool.

If you have some free time and like to be creative, go to the section that has aluminum flanges. You can buy one for 4 dollars. with a file, sandpaper, and hacksaw you can make a tool that will fit perfectly in the vent screw head and it should not take you more than 20 minutes to make whit those tools. www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-4-in-x-36-in-Aluminum-Flat-Bar-with-1-8-in-Thick-801947/204273954

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WillyWind said..

MagicRide said..
Just ordered 3 vent screws yesterday. Should be set for a while. I will go to Home Depot to check out their screwdrivers tomorrow. I have a small case that holds my Allen wrenches for the foil hardware and I put both slapper board and foil board vent screws in that case, so it's not forgotten. That case fits in a bigger case with both Philips and flathead screwdrivers with down haul tool.

If you have some free time and like to be creative, go to the section that has aluminum flanges. You can buy one for 4 dollars. with a file, sandpaper, and hacksaw you can make a tool that will fit perfectly in the vent screw head and it should not take you more than 20 minutes to make whit those tools. www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-4-in-x-36-in-Aluminum-Flat-Bar-with-1-8-in-Thick-801947/204273954

Pretty clever! I will look into it!

plastic vent screws, why to save weight ???? LOL