 Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 117 |
Alright everyone, I need a little help. I had one of Brent's knurled chrome pillion seat bolt on my America. http://newspeedmaster.com/html/pillion_seat_bolt.htmlI noticed a few days ago that it was missing and wasn't sure if some snotty teenagers had stolen it or if it had vibrated loose, but I got a replacement anyway. I went to install it today and saw that neither of the above options was true, but that the top had sheared off and left the stem of the bolt thoroughly inserted in my fender with no easy way to get it out. I can feel a tiny bit sticking through, but it's awfully tight under there and I am pretty sure I could not get a set of vise grips in there to turn it. Any suggestions? I think it would drive all the way through the bottom if I could figure a way to turn it.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
It's a rather small bolt but if you have a steady hand you should be able to drill it out.
The threaded hole goes all the way through, so it's likely that the drill will just catch at some point and run it out the back side.
Soak it with some Liquid Wrench for several hours before you start and use a very small drill bit. I would start with nothing larger than 1/16", preferably smaller. Get it as centered as you can, this can be tough with broken bolts so use a center punch and make sure you have a very good depression punched in the bolt. Take your time and drill straight. Gradually progress to larger bits until your in danger of hitting the threads. If it hasn't come out yet you'll need to use an easy out.
Good luck.
P.S. If you have access to left hand bits and a reversible drill, you'll have a better chance of the drill pulling the broken bolt out.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, tambiƩn
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
That bolt is aluminum, should be able to carefully start a small drill bit in it and it will go on through like bigbill said. I had one of those and changed it to a hardware store hex bolt after hearing of someone else in your same predicament.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
 This one was a post that held the top of my Hagon Shockie. The bolt must have had a flaw in it cos I didn't over tighten it before shearing off. Phew, was I releived when it came out 
Last edited by Staffo; 06/06/2009 8:43 PM.
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,152 |
Same thing happened to me. Liquid wrench, several size drills, easy-out.
Hey brent, mine was seized and i forced it but this does sound like a problem.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525 |
Quote:
I think it would drive all the way through the bottom if I could figure a way to turn it.
doesnt it come thru the bottom a bit. Maybe you could grab it with some vice grips and thread it thru 
Erwin 05 America
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,150 |
Hey David, I had a search for my episode of a similar situation and found the link below. Hope this helps Staffo My sheard off bolt saga
Staintune Pipes, K&N Pods, 45 pilots, TBS needles and 145 mains.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Quote:
Quote:
I think it would drive all the way through the bottom if I could figure a way to turn it.
doesnt it come thru the bottom a bit. Maybe you could grab it with some vice grips and thread it thru
What Erwin said....mine did the same thing. I was able to get under it and grab it with pliers to get it out.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
There is a tool similar to an EZ-out called a Grabit. It has a drill on one end and the extractor on the other. These seem to work very well.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
After doing a recent heli coil on my seat bolt hole, I've come to the over due conclusion that all the rear fender bolts require never seize.
Another never seize candidate come to mind - the alternator cover bolt just to the right of center on the bottom is a through hole that traps water. Pulled a thread a few weeks back when pulling the cover. Dissimilar metals cheese was apparent as well. As the hole was through, I didn't need to find an elusive bottoming tap, but did need to find an exotic Bike Bandit bolt. (Where does Triumph find these oddball fasteners? Did they loot the Rolls Royce factory bolt bins? ) I bet 1/4 of the R&D budget on these bikes was the engineering and implementation of weird bolts with odd sized shoulders and rare thread pitch vs. diameters, although it has been entertaining to present these bolts to the local specialty fastener store just to see the look on their face when they see, for example, the bolts that hold the back of the airbox up.
Disclaimer - if stuff goes flyin' off ones bike due to usage of never seize, tain't my fault.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I snapped off the head of one of my sprocket cover bolts a few years ago. Those bolts are very thin. There's barely a nub sticking out of the case. I've been putting off fixing it because I'm paranoid about drilling it. I don't even know if I have an extractor that small.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
Quote:
...sprocket cover bolts a few years ago. I've been putting off fixing it because I'm paranoid about drilling it. I don't even know if I have an extractor that small.
The problem there is the bolt is harder than the aluminum case. Try to find a left hand drill bit with the drill in reverse. If it bites, it may come on out without the extractor.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
In the "Better Safe than Sorry" category, I just put anti-seize on my seat bolt.
I stopped short of doing the same to my George Foreman Grill.
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Quote:
...sprocket cover bolts a few years ago. I've been putting off fixing it because I'm paranoid about drilling it. I don't even know if I have an extractor that small.
The problem there is the bolt is harder than the aluminum case. Try to find a left hand drill bit with the drill in reverse. If it bites, it may come on out without the extractor.
That's a good idea. 
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
We used left hand drill bits at a cabinet shop I worked at back when I was good looking (very long ago). Had a machine with a row of about 30 drill bits driven by a serpentine chain. They each turned in alternate directions. This was the first google on the list.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,586 Likes: 1 |
I drilled and tapped the one on Nanci's bike,still hangin in there.Seems the problem is the curve on the rack behind the solo seat,not to mention the crapy quality of the bolt.
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 Re: Remove a bolt with no head?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
This was the first google on the list.
I'll probably look for a small assortment locally first. Thanks for the link.
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