Question Anyone know what tool to use to remove this motherboard fastener without destroying them?

[fcar1999ta]

Trying to repaste a CPU, and the heatsink is held down by these tiny rectangle nuts. I am scared to destroy them trying to get them off. Is there a tool I can get that is made for these?

 

[BFG-9000]

You're not supposed to turn those nuts, but instead the screws on the other side.

 

[fcar1999ta]

You're not supposed to turn those nuts, but instead the screws on the other side.

There are no screws on the other side. There is nothing, just a hollow tube. If I could upload pictures I would.

 

[fcar1999ta]

I am guessing that the heatsink is mounted on a stud, and then the spring and nut are put onto the stud, but is there a tool to get the nut off? Maybe I am just going to have to look into ordering replacements for these ........ small rectangular fasteners. Yes, I typed it, and I couldn't finish typing the sentence.

 

[BFG-9000]

Here's a Toughbook and there are Phillips screws under the plastic on the other side, not studs

If they spin on the spring then pliers should work well enough to stop that,

otherwise there are two flats and they do stand proud, so tiny open-end wrenches such as from an ignition wrench set should work too.

 

[fcar1999ta]

Looks like I am buying tiny wrenches. I have never seen anything like this, nuts on one side and no screw on the other.

 

[BFG-9000]

You have to measure across the flats, as many metric ignition wrench sets only go down to 4mm. Here's a jewelry wrench set with three sizes smaller than that

I sure hope the stud doesn't spin on you.