help stripped bolt

Arizona_928 · 04:49 PM

well i've done it now....

any ideas of removing it?

944 boy · 10-11-2008, 04:49 PM

hahaha BTDT.......

Bad news, it was not simple to get undone. I finally used a Craftsman bolt out that fit over the head. However a socket would not go on the bolt out because of the close proximity to the cam cover. So I finally took my really big craftsman flathead screwdriver, hammered it into the hole in the back of the bolt out and welded them together. I used a pair of locking pliers on the handle of the screwdriver and out it came. I then ground off the welds and both tools still work!

I tried just about everything else because I had to have the car running win 24 hours. Good Luck!

mikepellegrini · mikepellegrini's Garage

I had almost exactly the same problem when I was doing my cam tower.

I drove the car to a muffler shop and had them weld a nut on top (abt a 13mm), then drove it home and easily broke it and took it off. They didn't charge me, but I slipped the guy a $10 for his trouble.

Another way I've seen it done was with an air-powered Dremmel sort of tool (actually it was kinda like a dentist's drill) with small abrasive discs. The guy cut a slit in the top of the bolt and then broke it using a small crow-bar blade as a screwdriver.

I've tried the welding trick myself - I rented a MIG welder, but was unable to get the nut to stick on the bolt sufficient to break it. I'd never used a wire fed welder before and I think that was the problem.

rsrmike · 10-11-2008, 05:17 PM

whatever you do to get it out,

toss whatever allen bit or cut the end off w/ a dremel or else you will soon be back in the same boat.

I usually use an impact driver w/ 3/8" drive and a HIGH QUALITY allen bit w/ no rounded edges

Be thankful it's not one of the internal bolts...

Good luck

paper1122 · 10-11-2008, 06:26 PM

I found that on my bolts I had to use a T-Handle allen wrench with a pair of vice grips to keep from stripping the heads. It was the only way keep everything straight, I know this doesn't help the current situation but it may help in the future.

krystar · 10-11-2008, 08:43 PM

might be a tight fit, but u can try getting a cutting tool in there like a dremel or a or a hacksaw and cutting a slot across the face of the bolt then using a good sturdy long flathead screwdriver.

u'd prob need a 90deg angle bending for the dremel to make it work...

drew1 · 10-12-2008, 02:04 AM

You can drill through the head & it will come off, leaving the end odf the bolt sticking up like a stud. When the parts are dissassembled, many times you can get it out with your fingers. If not use vise grips.

I work in the machine shop of an industrial plant & we have to do this a lot. Allen head bolts are usually a high alloy, heat treated, & tempered. A cobalt high speed steel drill bit will keep you from having to sharpen it as much. A company called Irwin, makes Left hand Cobalt bits that will sometimes grab & bring the bolt on out.

Travers Tool Co & J&L Industrial are two mail order & internet places that sell a kit that includes these LH bits & easyouts.

John_AZ · 10-12-2008, 05:33 AM

Some have had luck by gently pounding in the SAE next larger size of hex to the 6mm metric.

GL
John_AZ

1988 924S + 1987 924S

mattdavis11 · 10-12-2008, 05:43 AM

there is good advise on getting it out being given here. I'd try Johns method first, next larger size sae and whack it in.

In any event, make sure you wrap the socket or allen wrench with a hammer to seat it. It looks like the inside of your allen head is pretty dirty, wouldn't hurt to clean them out.

marky522 · 10-15-2008, 11:51 AM

If i was in that situation i would pound the next size uip TORX bit into it, when you are breaking it free, use gentle gradual pressure, instead of hemaning it all at once, usign gradual pressure it will all of a sudden SNAP and be loose.

BTDT

Mark

bholmes · bholmes's Garage

I'd just weld an alan or something to it and go about it that way. good luck!

Ritzblitz · 10-15-2008, 03:50 PM

I highly agree with marky522. I have gotten lots of rounded hex bolts out with a torx bit.

I'd try that first. If that fails, I slot the head with a cutoff wheel in the dremel and use a flathead screwdriver or a piece of flatstock for a little extra.

Good luck have fun.

175mph951 · 10-30-2008, 07:06 PM

8mm triple square will hammer right in that stripped hole then use a impact driver

Zero10 · 10-31-2008, 09:38 AM

I'd first try hammering in a torx bit, because its cheap and easy. If that fails to let you break it free, then drill the head off and the shaft will come out super easy. The only thing locking it in place is the friction between the bottom of the head of the bolt and the cam tower. If you use left-hand drill bits sometimes they bite and break the bolt free, but with either type, the aim is just to drill through the head. The rest will come out by hand once the cam tower is off.