How to undo a rounded bolt? :(

[ChrisR]

Tried to get the engine cover off the 172 this morning and the two bolts at the back are rounded off to hell so nothing I've tried will get them off.

I've got very limited tools (hammer, spannes, sockets, normal basic stuff, no drill) is there anything I can do to get them off?

I'm going to a garage next weekend for something so guessing they'll have some easy way of getting them out but ideally I wanted them out sooner.

Also on a related matter does anyone know the length of the two rear M6 bolts that hold the engine cover on?

 

[Fred@BTM]

drill the heads off is the easiest way i would say (you have no drill though )

 

[Budgie]

Whack it with the hammer. When it breaks blame someone else.

 

[Sami]

Depending on the kind of heads and where the bolts are, you could try getting a chisel or something similar and use that to knock them round anti-clockwise.

 

[dynamique_g]

try fitting a smaller socket on, hammer on using a small amount of force if you must.

 

[ChrisR]

ahh didn't think of getting a socket to hammer over the bolt, I was there hammering different screwn bits into them but whenever you applied any pressure it just turned in the bolt

 

[Sib]

I normally use a set of stilsons to remove rounded bolts, yes you'll have to buy some but there my all time fav tool. The more force you put on the more the grip increases

 

[Henry]

was also going to suggest mole grips; not always viable though

 

[ChrisR]

it's slightly annoying as the head of the bolt is slightly sunk in the engine cover, might nip out with some sockets and see if i can bash one over it (not bash one out over it ).

 

[mattjk]

Maybe chisel the head off?

 

[ChrisR]

No chisel, but even then am I still left with the thread in the hole?

 

[mattjk]

once the head is off it will be easy to remove the thread as its not being held by anything

Iv removed a very tight bolt with my finger once the head is removed

 

[moogster_1]

not been on this site for ages but thought id give my two cents worth hear. had symilar probs before in a situe where drilling was no the best idea and a pain staking as this may sound it worked well for me.

ver slowly using a fine hacksaw blade cut a grove into the flat part at the top of the bolt just wide enough to get a decent sized screw driver in and then i think the rest is self explanitory.

 

[ChrisR]

That would be a cracking idea, if only I had a hacksaw

 

[moogster_1]

That would be a cracking idea, if only I had a hacksaw

doh!

good luck wi that!

 

[ChrisR]

I could borrow the other half's nail file.

 

[Sib]

Get out and buys some tooolz man

 

[Sib]

Can you actually get the cover off?

 

[ChrisR]

I've got a few tools, never needed any others until now

cover is still on, just wanted to take it off to give it a cleanup and also replace the bolts with some stainless ones.

 

[SBV116]

Rag the engine cover off, chuck it in the bin where it belongs? job done!!! other than that buy a drill!!!

 

[ChrisR]

lol

 

[chrisdoc]

hi , if u want to get them off go out to a tool or a halfords n buy a kit specially for rounded bolts there designed like locking wheel nut removel tools , ive got a set at work always handy to have hope this helps

 

[Dazdon]

you can buy sockets that are designed specifically for this type of problem from the likes of screwfix! but the best way would be to cut a groove in the head of the bolt and use a screwdriver as suggested!
Otherwise if you can use something to get 2 flat edges on the side of the head then you would be able to use an adjustable spanner, access dependant.

 

[Sib]

There the worst things ever, nearly took my hand off with one once.

 

[Sib]

Actually, are the engine covers not held on with bolts with a torque end fitting rather than a hex?

 

[ChrisR]

yup sorry poor explanation, it's the hex bit that's all knackered. It's stripped all the thread inside, if you get what I mean?

 

[philthy]

get a set of irwins bolt removers, get them from machine mart... peice of piss

 

[TomTom]

If they're not too badly sheared off, line one up in the same was a you would a T30, then hammer a T35 or T40 into it.

Some numptys probably overtightened them, only need to be nipped with a screwdriver.

 

[Simon@SprayShack]

File it down so its not round? then get some grips on it?

 

[rossharrop1]

if its realy bad try welding a nut ontop then take off using the right sized socket/spanner

hard if u dont have a welding machine though !

 

[Jaff]

aldi have a great torx set for cheap at the minute if you are looking for a saccrificial torx socket/bit about £7 i think, quite handy with 3 renaults in the house hold all held to gether with torx (haven the french ever heard of philips head screws) and pick up one of the jack and axel stands too, bargins and pretty decent quality.

 

[sambo_clio_rsi]

Weld a bolt to the old one! That works!

 

[N!CK R]

Take a hacksaw to the top and cut a slit in it.
Then simply use a flathead to unscrew it.

 

[Neil G]

Take a hacksaw to the top and cut a slit in it.
Then simply use a flathead to unscrew it.

Yep....that's worked for me in the past

Using heat froma blow torch can help as well

 

[ChrisR]

finally did it today.

In the end had to hacksaw (I bought one!) one side off the torx screws, then get an adjustable spanner clamped on to turn them.

This was after snapping the engine cover to pieces so i could get to them properly, and after dropping 3 screwdriver bits down the back of the engine (never to be seen again)

 

[Chris_Cliomk1]

i hate loosing the flamin screwdriver bits, it always seems to be the one u most use aswel that u drop lol. so if u had to snap the cover to pieces anyway what exactly was the point in removing the bolts???

 

[Ben.Block]

shout and swear at it! Works for me!

 

[caister]

Cut a slot in it then use an impact driver to get it out. Thats what I had to do to remove my engine cover bolt the other week.

 

[mattjk]

i hate loosing the flamin screwdriver bits, it always seems to be the one u most use aswel that u drop lol. so if u had to snap the cover to pieces anyway what exactly was the point in removing the bolts???

+1 - could you not have just ripped it off then used pliars to turn it once its off

 

[ChrisR]

i hate loosing the flamin screwdriver bits, it always seems to be the one u most use aswel that u drop lol. so if u had to snap the cover to pieces anyway what exactly was the point in removing the bolts???

Bolts needed to come out as they were screwed, wanted to take the cover off to do some bits and bobs. Will just pick up another cover on the cheap. The main thing is I BEAT THOSE f**king BOLTS Ok I had to smash something but still...

Got a nice set of stainless bolts on their way as a replacement