Post by pauldaf44 on Oct 4, 2013 17:23:53 GMT
Time for a first how to I think. This I think could be a very useful one as if you do any amount of your own mechanics you are very likely to find this problem. So here is how to sort it.
Don't be tempted to use a long breaker bar if you can avoid it unless snapping the head off will not cause problems. For anything up to 17mm or so a half inch ratchet should be sufficient. Use the right size socket of a good quality and try to use a 6 point rather than a 12 point socket you've much less chance of it slipping and rounding the hex off.
Stage 1.
Clean any exposed threads with a wire brush any dirt on them will make your life harder. Don't skip this bit.
Spray some of this stuff on it,wurth rost of ice is good and so is Holts Break away, leave it for ten minutes and then try again. Don't bother with WD40 its not designed for this sort of work and to be honest its crap. If this doesn't work try stage 2.
Stage 2
Time for heat. The theory behind this is to heat the fastner such that it expands and loosens the threads. You need to get it quite hot to do this so a good blow torch or better still oxy-acetelene is your friend. I try and heat it till its red hot.
Once its hot enough cool it off and then try again to release it. Most will release now but if they don't we need to start to use more drastic measures.
Stage 3
If chemicals and heat have failed really all that's left to you is brute force this is when I would resort to a good long bar. If you use a long enough bar your stuck bolt will either give up and undo or snap. If it does start to move turn it a few turns one way and turn back to clear the threads until it starts to turn out easily.
Oh bugger its snapped now what
You have two options here and what you use depends on wether or not you have a stub of bolt showing.
If you do
Get a nut that's slides over the stub of bolt, and fetch your welding gear. Weld the nut securely onto the stub of bolt, you do need a good quality weld here as if you don't have decent penetration and fusion it will just snap off. Once its welded on get a spanner and turn the bugger out. The chances are it will just turn out now as you will have put so much heat into it welding the nut on. If it doesn't it will snap of again and you need to drill it out.
To drill it out.
Grind the bolt shank down flush with the hole its threaded into. Take a centre punch and punch dead center in the snapped of bolt. Now start to drill it out. Start with a nice small bit and gradually work your way up, I use left handed drill bits as often the remains of the bolt snag on the bit and turn out. If it doesn't just keep drilling out, stop once you've got it almost to the right size and try and pick out the remains of the thread to clear it out. If you can't you will need to drill oversize and re-tap. If the thread size is critical and you can't just use a larger bolt you can either weld the hole up, drill and re-tap or you could use a helicoil.
Don't be tempted to use a long breaker bar if you can avoid it unless snapping the head off will not cause problems. For anything up to 17mm or so a half inch ratchet should be sufficient. Use the right size socket of a good quality and try to use a 6 point rather than a 12 point socket you've much less chance of it slipping and rounding the hex off.
Stage 1.
Clean any exposed threads with a wire brush any dirt on them will make your life harder. Don't skip this bit.
Spray some of this stuff on it,wurth rost of ice is good and so is Holts Break away, leave it for ten minutes and then try again. Don't bother with WD40 its not designed for this sort of work and to be honest its crap. If this doesn't work try stage 2.
Stage 2
Time for heat. The theory behind this is to heat the fastner such that it expands and loosens the threads. You need to get it quite hot to do this so a good blow torch or better still oxy-acetelene is your friend. I try and heat it till its red hot.
Once its hot enough cool it off and then try again to release it. Most will release now but if they don't we need to start to use more drastic measures.
Stage 3
If chemicals and heat have failed really all that's left to you is brute force this is when I would resort to a good long bar. If you use a long enough bar your stuck bolt will either give up and undo or snap. If it does start to move turn it a few turns one way and turn back to clear the threads until it starts to turn out easily.
Oh bugger its snapped now what
You have two options here and what you use depends on wether or not you have a stub of bolt showing.
If you do
Get a nut that's slides over the stub of bolt, and fetch your welding gear. Weld the nut securely onto the stub of bolt, you do need a good quality weld here as if you don't have decent penetration and fusion it will just snap off. Once its welded on get a spanner and turn the bugger out. The chances are it will just turn out now as you will have put so much heat into it welding the nut on. If it doesn't it will snap of again and you need to drill it out.
To drill it out.
Grind the bolt shank down flush with the hole its threaded into. Take a centre punch and punch dead center in the snapped of bolt. Now start to drill it out. Start with a nice small bit and gradually work your way up, I use left handed drill bits as often the remains of the bolt snag on the bit and turn out. If it doesn't just keep drilling out, stop once you've got it almost to the right size and try and pick out the remains of the thread to clear it out. If you can't you will need to drill oversize and re-tap. If the thread size is critical and you can't just use a larger bolt you can either weld the hole up, drill and re-tap or you could use a helicoil.
