Head Bolt Removal....

[sparky 0]

Hello again chaps.

 

Well as you can see from the title I have a slight problem. Since its stopped raining for more than an hour I thought I'd get around to changing the head gasket. First bolt cracked off fine, on the second though the teeth on the torx bit started to bend without me noticing and then it slipped making a right mess of the head. What, if anything can I do now short of taking it to a engine specialist and if so can someone suggest one in the Swansea area (not ideal though cause im on a student budget)?

 

It'll teach me for buying cheap tools if nothing else.

 

Any help as always appreciated.

 

Chris

[Anthony 1,003]

What engine is it? 8v there's probably enough of the headbolt showing to easily weld a nut onto the end, whereas with an Mi16 the bolt is so recessed and so little space around it that I think short of drilling it out you're on a hiding to nothing.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

If you've got access to any welding gear you could try welding a nut to the Torx bolt head.

I spent 6 hours once trying to remove a snapped head bolt only to ruin the threads in the block.

If you manage to remove the head of the bolt with a dremel or grinder to take the cylinder head off. Grind 2 flats on the bolt shaft to get a spanner on it.

If it looks like its going to snap it will, so tighten it into the block first to try and clear the threads.

Edited January 28, 2009 by ALEX

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Either weld a nut on the end if you can get access, or drill the head off, if you drill through with a pilot and then go up to 12mm you will drill the head off.

[sparky 0]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I hadn't thought of drilling the head. I think im going to have to do that as I don't have a welder in my arsenal yet.

 

Hopefully this should be the last little hiccup before the car is back on the road.....................I may have just jinxed that...........

 

Thanks again for the help.

 

Chris

[marksorrento205 80]

Drill the head off but try not to drill to deep just enough to pop the head off and then you should have plenty of bolt remaining to either use a stud removal tool or a pair of mole grips. latter not my choice. IMO

[Cameron 16]

You shouldn't need any special tools to get the remainder of the bolt out of the block. When I took my '6 engine apart one of the tops of the bolts sheared off. I did what Tom said and drilled it out, there was enough of the shaft left sticking out of the block that I could just give it a tap and then screw it out by hand.

Make sure you give the head a really good clean after though.

[hexhamstu 9]

are you at swansea uni?

[sparky 0]

Hi no im down the road at Swansea met. I take it you're a fellow student/loafer What are you studying?

[hexhamstu 9]

Hi no im down the road at Swansea met. I take it you're a fellow student/loafer What are you studying?

doing mechanical engineering, and yes i am a student dosser!

[Alteran 1]

Torx bolts are a cr@p design. If these round out at work then we crudely hammer an equivalent size Spline headed tool (Spline bolts are very common on VW's) into the mashed torx bolt and crack it off. Works every time.

[sparky 0]

Torx bolts are a cr@p design. If these round out at work then we crudely hammer an equivalent size Spline headed tool (Spline bolts are very common on VW's) into the mashed torx bolt and crack it off. Works every time.

 

I agree entirely, the Torx design is interesting to say the least.

 

Anyway I went out to get a new t55 bit as i'll need it to put the new bolts back in. Oddly enough I ended up with a halfords pro bit (trade card) and decided on the off chance to hammer it into the damaged head. I gave it a real good sharp tug with my biggest breaker bar an would you know it, it came free first time. No damage to the torx bit whatsoever. Never been 100% on halfords tools but I may have changed my mind.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

 

Just got the problem of there being no obvious gasket failure now. The joys

Edited January 31, 2009 by sparky