tight screws

OK this is probably a dumb question but is there a way to easily get very tight screws out of a power steering cylinder with out rounding the heads?

These are handy to have around.

http://www.bing.com/images/results.aspx?q=hand+impact+driver&form=MSNH14&refig=6f5ee93241ea4fb2b75298bcdbdca029&pq=hand+impact&sc=8-11&sp=1&qs=AS&sk=#view=detail&id=728DBFB374B237E388A2F0A7BFF7DBA15D495CE2&selectedIndex=2

Make sure that you have very good screwdriver bits, then try an impact driver that you hold down with a lot of force.

impact driver

The hand impact drivers work well, make sure you have it set to "off".
Freeze spray similar to this or spray freon helps also.

I don't have a impact driver. Also I have to hold the cylinder in my hand

I have good luck clamping a needle nose vise grip on the screw and then putting the screwdriver in there as well. I figure you are probably getting the same force with only half of the torque on he slot(s). Having a Phillips or straight screwdriver that is big enough is a big deal. Lots of folks try using one that is too small and it doesn't fit right. That's asking for trouble.

The hand impacts are really cheap. I don't know any other way to get a tight screw loose. Best to attack it with the right tool first, after it's rounded out, nothing short of drilling the head out will work.

If they are as tight as your post suggests, then take it from a mechanic that has run into the same kind of problem way too many times......An impact driver, as others have already suggested, is going to be the only choice. There is no way you can use a screwdriver and adjustable wrench, etc and hold the end of the screwdriver in the head of the screw with enough force to keep it from rounding out the head of the screw. On the other hand when you smack the end of an impact driver the force pushing the bit into the head is equal to, or greater than the force applied to the screw in breaking it loose. I've used one many times and never rounded out a screw using one. I've broken the heads off a few, but none ever rounded out. That said, I have rounded out my share trying to hold the screwdriver and turning it with an adjustable.

Given that you say your going to have to hold it while getting the screws out does nothing but magnify the fact that your not going to have enough force to keep from rounding the head. But, if you have someone else hold it and then use an impact driver, it will still, more than likely come out. Good luck.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Screwdrivers-And-Bits/9-pc-Manual-Impact-Driver-Set/8311615.p

only $20 to buy one if you are going to be doing this kind of playing buy one before you mess up and end up paying anyway.

A manual impact driver is the right way but if it is a do or die right now situation try this. Cut part of the handle off of a plastic handle screw driver to expose the metal shank. Hold pressure on the screw and whack the shank with a hammer. After the first 1/64th turn,its usually much easier to turn.

Here is a gunsmithing trick I learned years ago. If the object is small enough to fit onto your drill press table, insert a screw driver bit into the chuck. Lower the bit/chuck into the screw and turn the chuck by hand while applying downward pressure on the bit/chuck. It works every time unless you"ve already messed up the screw head.

Find some round metal that is same size as screws and hit it with a hammer 2 or 3 times and then try screw...might have to warm(hit) it again