shop-talk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Best way to remove broken bolts

To: Mike Rambour <mikey@b2systems.com>, shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Best way to remove broken bolts
From: Trevor Boicey <tboicey@brit.ca>
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 01:55:19 -0500
Mike Rambour wrote:
>    I need a good way to remove 6 broken bolts/studs in a 34 Singer 
> motor.   I removed the oil pan on my car and found that it was only held in 
> by 2 wood screws and 4 bolts as the other 6 bolts were broken in the 
> block.  I assume they were studs.  4 of them are broken almost flush with 
> the block, one is going to easier since it is broken slightly inside the 
> hole and the other is sticking out about 1/4" but I am not able to move it 
> with vice-grips.

   Soaking in penetrating oil is a good start, even just while you 
ponder your next steps.

   If it sticks out, you can cut a slot in the top and try to move it 
with a big screwdriver. Or cut flats on the side and try again with a 
wrench. (I've had more luck with the latter, but others have suggested 
the former. To me the trick is getting enough torque on the screwdriver!)

   The heat and vibration of the grinding might loosen it a lot so it 
might actually come out fairly easily.

   If you have a MIG welder, you can also build up the visible portion 
of the stud carefully with weld, then when you have a little bump, put a 
nut over it and then weld the bump and the nut together.

   Then try to turn the nut with a wrench. It might take a few attempts, 
but the heat from the welder will loosen it, and if you can get a good 
weld you will actually be able to put a lot of force on the nut.

   The A/C compressor fell off of my wife's Tercel once, shearing off 
two of the four bolts in a really inaccessible area. By sheer miracle, I 
was able to get the MIG welder in there and used the above to extract 
the remnants.

>    I bought the car 2 years ago and finally am trying to get it on the road 
> but I am unwilling to reassemble the oil pan with only 4 bolts.

   Well, if you use pan sealant, that grabs pretty good. I know even 
after you take all the bolts out the pan often still needs a good whack 
with a mallet and some prying to come loose.

   If it means the difference of driving or not, four bolts and a good 
dose of sealant might last for as long as you care about. You could also 
use a jack to help compress the sealant until it dries.

   It might depend on how well-spaced the remaining four bolts are. ;>

 > I have had good luck with those in the past at
> working out broken studs as they grab/drill into them but there are small 
> 3/16" bolts, how do I center them ?

   ...too hard for a conventional center punch? Or too late? ;>

-- 
Trevor Boicey, P. Eng.
Ottawa, Canada, tboicey@brit.ca
ICQ #17432933 http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
The stoplight in front of my house is currently: GREEN

///  unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net  or try
///  http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
///  Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/shop-talk


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>