WEAKLEW wrote:
>
> Kevin,
> Forget the Easy-outs. If the bolt is really stuck, you're most likely to end
> up with part of the hardened steel Easy-out broken off in the hole you drilled
> in the broken off bolt. Then you are really in a pickle. Been there. Done
> that.
> Best bet for a bolt or stud broken off flush is to carefully drill out the
>bolt
> and retap. If you use progressively larger drills, you can gradually correct
> any off-centeredness. Last drill should be the correct size for the tap. BE
> CAREFUL WITH SMALL DRILL BITS. You can also break them off in the hole. Been
> there. Done that.
> Good luck,
> Bill Weakley, 56 MGA, 65 Midget
Some advice on twisted off bolts: locate some _left_ handed twist drills.
Probably hard to
find, but they are available. Eastwood has them in their catalog, seems like I
remember seeing
some at Sears also. Use a drill motor in the reverse direction. Frequently
the torque and heat
of drilling out the stud in a counter-clockwise direction will free the stud
remnants. If not,
you have the necessary hole for easy-out or rethreading anyway.
My $.02 worth. YMMV
Wayne Kube
79B
Plano, TX
|