Stuck bolt!!

[TRACKMKIII]

Son of a B**ch what next!! Everytime I turn around some little problem to f**k my day!!! Anway on to the proble. Well yesterday I was getting to ready to drain my coolant system and replace the hoses and thermostat. I get ready to pull the thermostat housing and the top bolt snaps. Well my question is has anyone tried a bolt extractor drill bit before? I am going to pick this one up on monday and see if it will works for me. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product2_6970_200264674_200264674

If these thing suck someone please tell me before I make things worse and let me know of a better way.

 

[Joel W.]

Did it break off flush so there is nothing to grab onto? Bummer, Just make sure you drill the hole centered (out of the threads) and with the correct size drill bit, I have had luck with them. Usually the heat from drilling will help loosen the bolt a bit..

Buy a tube of Antisieze and put a little on the threads to prevent this next time..

 

[TRACKMKIII]

It didn't brak off flush but I didn't think there was enough material sticking out to grab onto.

 

[Joel W.]

If you can get some locking plyers on it, try a little heat from a torch first. Otherwise you may have to grind it flat so you can center punch the bolt and drill it.

Use lube so you dont snap your bit. They are hard to drill out.

 

[TRACKMKIII]

It there a "special" drill bit lube or will any kind of silicon lube work?

 

[Joel W.]

Cutting oil or wd40 works, motor oil even, Anything to keep the bit from getting to hot and siezing. Saves the bit life too.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Also, use a left handed "reverse" bit. Sometimes it will actually catch and remove the bolt for you.

And as suggested, heat up the area first with a torch and try and remove it with a pair of good vice grips.

 

[TRACKMKIII]

Also, use a left handed "reverse" bit. Sometimes it will actually catch and remove the bolt for you.

And as suggested, heat up the area first with a torch and try and remove it with a pair of good vice grips.

Yeah I am going to pick up a set of Screw Extrator bit from Northern Tool on the way to work tomorrow.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Thats not what I meant. I ment the drill bit itself. Go to your local mill/machine shop supply and get a reversed drill bit made of cobalt.

 

[bigal0043]

i tried using one of those bit extractors today on a broken bolt... it didnt work for me.. i ended up drilling it and retapping the hole.. i hope you have better luck with the extract

 

[Clip]

those things never worked for me, but like MDC suggested, i have had luck getting drill bits jammed and while trying to back them out it would take the bolt with it. If you get really desparate, drill yourself a hole and JBweld another bolt or something you can get a grip on with vicegrips and try to turn it out that way.

 

[TRACKMKIII]

Thats not what I meant. I ment the drill bit itself. Go to your local mill/machine shop supply and get a reversed drill bit made of cobalt.

If the reversed drill bit doesn't work I am I looking at tapping the hole again?

 

[supra90turbo]

Yes. You will have to drill it out completely and re-tap or helicoil.
What's the lesson here? anti-seize. Use a small dab on every bolt/nut like this.

 

[Stretch]

Not sure if you fixed it yet, but that drill spiral thing you posted in your first post works. I used one, and although it broke itself getting the bolt out, it was worth the $5 instead of the huge hastle I would have had. My broken bolt was the one that holds your oil pump brace to the block inside the pan. Yeah.
eric

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Well you use the reverse drill bit to drill your hole and hope that the bolt comes with the drill bit.

If not, you now have a nice little hole for your screw extractor to be pounded into.

I personally like the snap on series which attaches to your ratchet.

 

[Clip]

will anti-seize affect the holding power of the bolt any? wil it make it more prone to loosening by vibration?

 

[MDCmotorsports]

will anti-seize affect the holding power of the bolt any? wil it make it more prone to loosening by vibration?

Two sided coin question there.

On one hand, anti seize will help the bolt when removed.

On the other, if applied you can get a better torque reading because the lubrication properties of the anti seize.

 

[Clip]

k, just wondering if it made it able to vibrate loose/act as the opposite of loctite

 

[Joel W.]

Clip: No, It should not, It only takes a very small dab on the threads to be effective against siezing. Awsome stuff for aluminum.

 

[supramacist]

Hey!!!! did you ever figure this one out because it can be tricky. there is a really old school set up you may still be able to purchase. It requires you to drill a small hole in the bolt. And then with the same drill you aplly this reverse bit wich sometimes backs it out and sometimes it doesn't. I think it all depends on patience and finess.