stripped a bolt head

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » November 16th, 2005, 8:20 pm

well i was tryin to take my heads of my engine and these bolts were on EXTREMELY tight. i know they r supposed o be really tight but yea. i was tryin to and i managed to strip the bolt. i was using the proper 12 point socket and i still did it. now since this is in a really tight space its hard to try and loosen it. does anyone got ideas how to take it out?

Grants · Post by **Grants** » November 16th, 2005, 9:04 pm

Did you strip the bolt, or just rounded the head of it?

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » November 16th, 2005, 9:15 pm

o srry round the head i was thinkin i stripped the head lol anyway yea i completely rounded it cuz the bolts i think are way overtightened

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » November 16th, 2005, 9:21 pm

normally it wouldnt be hard to remove a rounded off bolt but becuz it right down in a very tight space it makes it difficult. we got that strippied head remover it will go in but u need a wrench to to grip it but u cant fit it in there even if u put a socket over the strip head remover gadget it wont go on cuz the small space. u cant use sockets no more and u cant usr vise grips and u cant just drill it out either. my dad is goin to try a new tool where u drill it into the bolt and when u reverse it it grips it and hopefully takes it out but im askin on here to to see if anyone has ideas.

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » November 16th, 2005, 9:38 pm

You have stripped the head of the bolt.

The bolt is still under pressure so there is no way
you can use a "Ezy Out".

You are going to need the services of a professional
machineshop, for them to "core" the bolt and then use
a counter sink drill to remove the head of the bolt so the
head can be removed.

Can be done at home but you will need a drill guide machined
up to sit central over the bolt to put a pilot hole in the bolt.

This will leave a good portion of the bolt in the block not
under pressure and can be removed by a bolt extractor.
Or vice grip's if your really cheap.

after you have removed the head.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » November 16th, 2005, 9:46 pm

No chance getting a 6 point socket to work?

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » November 16th, 2005, 9:47 pm

that really sux i was hopin i wouldnt have to do that but until then ill c what we can do if it dont work thats gonna be last thing to do but at least i know what has to be done if i gotta give it to the machine shop

babyblueMX3 · Post by **babyblueMX3** » November 17th, 2005, 10:18 am

I realllllly can't see how you stripped those bolts..they are so tough.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » November 17th, 2005, 2:51 pm

babyblueMX3 wrote:I realllllly can't see how you stripped those bolts..they are so tough.

Neither do I. They're uber-hardened steel. Not to mention I don't see how you stipped a 12 pt with the proper sized 12 pt socket ..... unless someone already tried to remove the heads with a standard socket like a moron.

If the star is indeed worn off, you're screwed. Plain and simple. Those are down over 100 ft lbs. You'll never get it out with an Easy Out or any gimmick liek that.

em-ex-3 · Post by **em-ex-3** » November 17th, 2005, 3:13 pm

i dont know if this will help seeing the bolts hard to get at but last time i had this problem witha stuborn bolt, i tried to penetrate some on the top and botom threads with WD40 nd then i got my dremel nd made a grove in the middle so it would act as a flat head bolt and then i got my tire iron nd cranked it off

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » November 17th, 2005, 5:09 pm

i dont think wd 40 would help not for these. i really did have the proper size 12 point socket i even went out and paid 50 bucks for a couple of them to make sure i did it rite. i dunno how either how i rounded it but seriously those r on tight! i tried an impact to loosen no luch so we tried the socket wrench and we couldnt get enough leverage so we stock a long a-- wrench on it for extra leverage and we got a couple off that way but the one just took the teeth off the bolt. my dad was a mechanic and he even says for head bolts they r over tightened. well ill c what i can do though.

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » November 17th, 2005, 7:33 pm

You should be doing this with a 1/2" drive 24" breaker bar. And I don't think they're overtightened. Our cars have a pretty high compression with over 200 PSI, compared to about 160 for a big block.

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » November 18th, 2005, 4:03 am

I "Undid" my head bolts off with a 6Ft power bar.

They are down tight, period.

Just dremel the head of the bolt off, and remove the head
you will have 40mm of stud hanging out of the block to
grip on to to remove.

Grants · Post by **Grants** » November 18th, 2005, 4:37 am

kiwi_MX3 wrote:I "Undid" my head bolts off with a 6Ft power bar.

They are down tight, period.

Just dremel the head of the bolt off, and remove the head
you will have 40mm of stud hanging out of the block to
grip on to to remove.

Yup, not much option

wazza · Post by **wazza** » November 18th, 2005, 7:41 am

I'd say drill the head off the bolt. Centre-punch it smack in the centre of the head, then start with the smallest Cobalt drill you can lay your hands on to pilot drill & step up in size progressively till you get to a size just a few thou under the bolt diameter. Use Rocol cutting compound on the drills to keep them cool as well. You should be able to snap the head off the bolt.

If it sounds too tricky, then definitely go to an engineering workshop.