[seeyouontheflipside]

I'm new here, just looking for some education and wisdom from more experienced tinkerers.  I am trying to get a Fisher Price 825 record player running so my small daughter can enjoy the satisfaction of putting on a good record, stretchin' out on the floor, and lettin her mind wander, or even just playing with the record player and seeing how it works.  We just received a replacement needle we found on ebay, installed it and discovered the sound is barely audible.  I'd like to get the bottom cover off to inspect the insides and see if we can figure out the problem but there are these awful security screws that stand in the way.  We don't seem to have the correct bit in any of our collections.  I would love some insight or any tips that anyone can offer.  Grateful there are good people out there who respect and enjoy the good ol' stuff.   

[SteveFord]

Post a picture of one of the screws, would you?

[WGH]

Does the screw head look like a star? Ace Hardware has all types and sizes of torx bits.

[seeyouontheflipside]

This is what we're dealin' with...

[SteveFord]

Boy, that's a weird one.
Do you think you can get enough of a grip on it with something like this?

[Bob2]

Try Mcmaster Carr as a source for that type of driver. Look at security screws. Associated drivers should be listed.

[strider]

In a pinch, you may be able to drill out the middle of the bolt head so that little dot of material is gone and use a philips driver. Might be easier with a Dremel tool or similar if you have access to one.

On a side note, I really wish I still had my Fisher Price record player.

[Ericus Rex]

If you can't find the exact bit just drill a small hole into the center of the head and use a screw extractor to remove the bolt...if you can get to it!

[bregez]

That's an old style "tri-Y" or almost a "tri-Groove" screw.  In your case that would be a 3 Prong Security HOLT style.  Bits are available but can be costly.  An alternative would be to use steel tubing of the same outer diameter of the screw head and file three notches to match the screw head.  If you can't find tubing you can substitute a cheap nut driver the approximate diameter of the screw head and file that down.  Then use the tubing or modified nut driver to extract the screw. 

[thunderbrick]

Seems that F-P REALLY didn't want the kids to get in there and start modding things!   

[seeyouontheflipside]

Boy, that's a weird one.
Do you think you can get enough of a grip on it with something like this?

My husband tried that first, broke one of the teeth off, that's when I started gettin' antsy.

[seeyouontheflipside]

So, after much deliberation, we're going to try Eric Rex's suggestion.  We'll drill a hole in the center of the head and see if a screw extractor can get the job done.  I planned to replace the security screws with regular phillips heads anyway, just in case we ever need to get into the case again.  I'll let ya'll know how things turn out.

Thanks so much to everyone for the comments, suggestions, and information provided!

[WGH]

My husband tried that first, broke one of the teeth off...

It's never too early to teach your daughter how to swear like a sailor.

[Ericus Rex]

Hope it works for you!