Stripped Bolt Extraction

[jisham]

This question is not so much regarding my mustang but I figure the people on this forum would know best.

I have been working on my daily driver car and am replacing the water pump. I got to the last bolt holding it in. It was one of the first ones I tried but moved on since I could not get it out. Now it is stuck, stripped and not really budging at all. It is a 10mm size bolt with a shaft of about 15-20mm. I first tried the socket but that rounded off the endges, then I went to a fixed wrench, that did the same thing. I talked to a few people and they suggested a locking wrench. Did that and now it is all chewed up and the vice wrench does not even stay on the bolt head.

I tried taking a torch to it and heating it up. No luck, just gained another deep cut on my fingers when the wrench slid of the bolt and I used the engine block as a punching bag.

I have considered grabbing hold of the water pump and trying to use that to help get the bolt free.

Anyway, any thoughts would be great, because after this is done and I can drive it then I can start working so I can pay for the mustang rebuild.

 

[ludwig]

***Bob Vila*** has advertized a bolt extractor with reverse threads inside a socket cup. It is available at Sears, I believe.

Other techniques would include cutting it off flush and drilling out the shank starting with a very small bit and working up to one that is just smaller than the size of the stuck one. Then tapping the hole, cleaning out the crumbs of the old bolt.
Also soaking with liquid wrench or other penetrating oil over several days, accompanied by banging on the offending member. Then heat, pounding, torque, extractor wrench. If this fails, see the suggestion about drilling it out.

 

[jisham]

I did soak it with penetrating oil for 1 day. The straight on head clearance is only 4" so I don't really have the option of drilling.

I will see about the reverse sockets you were talking about.

 

[wallaka]

***Bob Vila*** has advertized a bolt extractor with reverse threads inside a socket cup. It is available at Sears, I believe.

They work. I got mine from Snap-On before Sears copied them. Got every one of my exhaust bolts out, even the ones that the head snapped all the way off of.

 

[jisham]

Random question. When these kits say they fit as low as 10mm bolts would the still work if the bolt is now closer to 9 1/2mm?

Maybe not too random.

I am going to go pick up the Craftsman set today - hopefully that will work. So far the word I've heard on these tools has been a 100% success rate. I hope I'm not the exception

 

[Anonymous]

Pull the radiator out and you will have more room to work with.

Drill off the head of the bolt ONLY. Then slide the water pump off over the shank that remains.

NOW soak it with liquid wrench (because the threads are now exposed)

Then use the vise grips (Use ONLY real vise grips, NOT a copy) to grip the shank and remove it.

 

[Geezer 300]

Let us know of your success, or lack of it.

 

[jisham]

Got it - I bought this set from Sears - http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...Bolt-Out,+Taps+&+Dies&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

What took me days I finished in 10mins with this tool - You should see the bolt - crazy stuff. I'll try posting a picture of it soon.

thanks for the help.

 

[Anonymous]

What took me days I finished in 10mins with this tool .

Rock on!