Freeing up an allen...
 

[Closed] Freeing up an allen bolt.

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poxy wee grub screw allen bolt in my grips is being a right bawbag. anyone got any ideas how to shift it? its on the verge/could be rounded. tried soaking it with wd and not really wanting to force it much more. bloody halfords crap.


 
Posted : 20/11/2011 10:18 pm
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Hot water (I'm assuming the collar is alu).


 
Posted : 20/11/2011 10:23 pm
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never heard of that! I will try it when my patience returns. Thanks!


 
Posted : 20/11/2011 10:26 pm
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What Roschach said, if not use a hex bit if you have one then you can push down on the ratchet whilst applying more torque, if not just go for it if you **** it just drill the head of the bolt off using a drill bit the same size as the head of the bolt.


 
Posted : 20/11/2011 10:26 pm
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Thanks!


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:07 am
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I have a similar problem but with a crank bolt that I cannot shift, do you thinking the hot water trick could work? I assume that the steel bolt expands less that the thread in the axle, freeing it up? Or just the expansion contraction has a loosening effect?


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:10 am
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Before the drill, you could try forcing a Torx bit into the head. After all, how much torque did you use to do it up? Other wise, driller time!


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:24 am
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bit of 'plus-gas' makes a lot of inroads into a siezed bolt.

Then a hand held impact driver. You can get one that will fit your normal sockets/connectors etc.


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:31 am
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+1 plusgas. it really is magic.


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:35 am
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If it's a tiny grubscrew that the allen key is just a bit loose in, get an allen key of the right size (one you can spare) and hit it with a hammer to flatten it slightly to get a better fit.


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 10:42 am
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Hot water = waste of time.

Plusgas/WD40 etc. = waste of time, it won't penetrate seized threads.

Hammering in a bigger Allen key will destroy it.

Cutting off the head will leave the shaft and how are you going to remove that?

The answer:

Support the piece very well. Take an Allen head from a screwdriver set or a punch and a big hammer and give the bolt a smart tap vertically.

Having broken the bond you'll find that it will unscrew easily.


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 11:37 am
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Thanks again all.


 
Posted : 21/11/2011 11:57 am