how to open rounded allen bolt

Hello, I need advice on opening a bolt that is almost rounded and it just wont move. Its the top bolt for the power steering bracket that goes through the water pump and into the engine. I know one option is to grind it off but ould the water pump then leak? or will the other bolts be enough to hold it tight?

 

SPray with lots of penetrating fluid, then try hammering in a torx head socket

 

tried that and now the T40 torx is starting to slip.

 

Irwin bolt grips?? There is a thread on the tools section.

 

or if you have room a set of stilsons

 

Dont use a torx bit hammer in a spline and that will work better

 

get a socket slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the bolt, put a little bit of wire wool in the bottom of it and hammer it onto the bolt, also whack a cable tie round the outside of the socket to lessen the chance of it splitting. double hex sockets work best :-)

 

hammer and big flat screwdriver in an anticlockwise direction, will come loose in no time!

 

grips! and heat!

 

wow now I have a whole array of ways to attack the dirty bolt I will try this weekend and let you know how I got on....maybe there should be a prize for the winning method

 

how the hell would a cable tie stop a socket being split open by a big hammer

id go with the irwin bolt grippers theyre well worth having , or bash the spline into it

 

the only reason I have not bought the Irwin bolt grippers is because it seems they are only suitable for hexagonal head bolts (assuming you are talking about the socket grippers and not the stilson)

 

no irwins will work on a round bolt too...the sharp teeth dig in and make it grip

ive used mine on rounded allen key bolts

 

Well looks like its time to invest

 

If you use the Irwin bolt grips (mine was on a rear caliper carrier bolt), it will definitely grip a round headed bolt. I had more trouble getting the bolt back out of the grip socket after because it gripped so well!!

 

hi,
im saving myself from writing another thread about this problem....

it seems like "G60KG" has some good ideas to keep him busy....

would you mind pointing me in the right direction....

my front caliper bolt has rounded off on my golf mk2...... as you all know, its an allen key.. and ive tried hammering a bigger size into it... but because its rusty, it still rounds....


any ideas while your on a role??

cheers

 

jon - file some flats on it and get some stilsons on it, (you might have to cut the rubbers away to start with, to expose the bolt head)

 

cheers tim, thats sounds like it could work...
could you help me on my engine removal thread plz tim....

 

had to do it on my mates not long ago, new bolts arent too expensive either,

GSF for them

tim

 

go and tear a piece of paper in half, easy isn't it? now get another piece, roll it up and pull it from both ends, not so easy to tear in that direction is it?

you'd be surprised how strong materials are when subject to forces that they're designed to withstand