Rounded off allen bolt

Hi all, I've had a bit of a nightmare with a couple of allen/hex bolts today. The first one I managed to round off, I hammerd in a larger torx bit to give it another go but I round it off again. With the second one I snapped the head right off.

Has anyone got any ideas?

 

Hmmmm... sounds familiar... mechanic ended up using a hammer and chisel on mine as some muppet slathered the screw in superglue! Hope it hasn't happened to yours.

I know some mechanics have a tool that'll drill into the centre of the screw and get it out, but I don't know of any home solutions. I'm sure someone will come up with some more useful suggestions soon... as well as some not so useful ones!

 

It'd be handy if you post a close up pic.

 

Can you get the bolts behind undone and remove the "bracket" (footrest hanger?)

 

Soak in WD-40, leave to penetrate. Centre punch the bolt head, use a hammer to tap round with a sharpened screwdriver. Sounds drastic but i have done this several times.

 

do you have a Dremmel ???? is so ues the tiny little cutting blade make cut across bolt head - leave to soak in wd40 / ac90 next day use a big scredriver & undo !

 

I tried that but they started to grind on the footrest hanger.

 

The dremel sounds like a good idea, I just don't have one

 

Probably me being stupid, but I don't quite understand. What does the centre punch and tapping the screwdriver actually do?

 

Or use an Impact Driver, with as screwdriver bit, if you can borrow or buy one

 

If you can lossen the bolts with a socket, then undo with an openended spanner at least the hanger and plate are of the bike and you can drill the bolts out

 

If you can get the bike up to my place, I'll do it for ya?

 

Cant see it that well and may be barking up the wrong tree.cant you just drill the head off then remove the hanger. You then have loads of thread to play with ,some good quality mole grips would do th job.

 

I should have explained better.. Use the centre punch to make a 'starting' point on the bolt, then start to firmly hit the centre punch anti clockwise. Usually the metal on the bolt will sheer a little and the 'starting' point made by the punch will be big enough top get a more substantial tool like an old but sturdy screwdriver on it to tap/hit with the hammer. Like i said it sound drastic but its never failed me.

 

'Easy Outs', No they aren't!!!!!

Don't use them, they're a fucking nightmare and cost me serious money!!!!!

Can you not drill the cap off and deal with whats left, at least then you'll have the hanger off and have some room to play......

 

A bit late but preventative maintainence is the answer, get some of this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MULTI-PUR...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item19cf23619a
and spend a few hours removing and refitting bolts

 

PS..... Punch this up on google and read the horror stories about Easy outs!