Originally Posted by
Rhodabike
Since it's in more than finger-tight, I'd like to know what it is before I take a wrench to it to try to unscrew it from the boss.
I'd bet they a a shipping/protection thing.
Try using a rag as a cushion and a pair of pliers to unscrew them. With that small diameter they don't have to be very tight to be more than finger tight.