Removing ball bearing from allen/hex bolt head, how?

So, you’ve just N+1’d and need to reposition a few wall-mounted bike racks in order to squeeze an extra rack in for the new bike. However, when you originally mounted the racks you also inserted (with a BFH…) the supplied ball bearings into the heads of the allen bolts that hold the racks and wall anchors on. Never at any time did you think you’d want/need to reposition them to squeeze an extra rack in the space…

How could you then remove the ball bearings from the allen bolt head to allow repositioning of the racks?

Already tried/failed drilling one – the material of the wall anchor is softer than the ball bearing…

good luck with that… they’re designed to be tamper proof 🙂

Is there any of the bolt protruding or are they countersink screws recessed into the bracket/mount? Got any pics?

centre punch with a diamond and drill out with a diamond bit on a dremel.

If the bolt is soft enough just hammer a screwdrive blade in next to it and prize out? Otherwise cut a slot with a grinder and do it that way?

As above.
Dremel a slot through the ball and bolt then use a screwdriver to unscrew it.

Magnet? or is it glued?

EDIT – ah, just understood BFH.

Weld a nut on.

Countersunk bolt heads sitting flush with the surrounding surface. Yep, went full-security when I fitted them a few years ago, never thinking I’d want to add an extra rack in. Wasn’t thinking about N+1 (or more accurately, N+2 or 3 or 4 or 5) – a real beginner’s error which I should know better on.

Bugger. Got 10 of them to do (5 anchor points, 2 per anchor).

Tried magnet, no luck.

Not glued – just a tight fit.

Think I’ve got a lot of drilling to do…

Blow torch and stand clear when it shoots the red hot BB out of the bolt head. (It might also fall, suggest bucket of sand under just in case)

Or, drill a couple of holes in the Cs bolt head and use a pin spanner.

For future reference, either buy proper security bolts or use paint, antipick mastic, wood filler, glue etc. you’re looking to stop someone quickly grabbing the Allen key off the side and undoing it. Anyone with the time or kit to dig crap out of the bolt heads is taking your bike anyhow, all those BBs are doing is making it likely they trash other stuff in the process.

Can you get a pick in there? possibly drilling between the ball and the nut first?

Link to Draper Bearing Pick Set…

Move house?

How much were the brackets each?

Link to Draper Bearing Pick Set…

I ruined a dental toothpick trying that but those look much more appropriate for the job (the ball bearings, not my teeth). Tempted to try combined with drilling into the edge of the hole first.

Move house? How much were the brackets each?

Tempting. The brackets were a tenner inc the bolts etc (LINK shows the bolts in question) so not a disaster if I damage them beyond reuse. I could manage with only moving 3 or 4 of my current mounts rather than all 5.

Build a new wall in front of the bracket.

Build a new wall in front of the bracket.

But in my head I’d still know the original brackets that I failed to remove are still there. Not tolerable.

A wee chisel on the outer edge and tap it loose would be my first thing to try

welding nuts on is going to be the most time efficent way of doing it IMHO
punching and drilling a hardened BB out is going to be less than fun

Can you drill two small holes and in6fo the bolts with circlip pliers?

Dremel the head off and use an easy out

… so much easier to type than do

Good point, I have a massive motorbike ground anchor in the back of the house I no longer need, but bolts have BBs hammered in!

Might try angle grinder on it…

Try some heat on it.ight well aneal it as well if you try drilling after

I’d try a dremel with a thin cutting disk, previously worn down to smaller diameter. Cut a slot through the ball bearing and the countersink bolt. The two halves of the BB should fall out or be easy to pick out, and the allen socket will probably still be usable unless you have to use a lot of torque.

Thanks all. Plan of action formulated:

* set of picks ordered to try and ease my balls out.
* failing that, I like the idea of 2 small holes drilled then use circlip pliers to unwind the bolt (suspect they might be in too tightly for that though).
* failing that, dremel/cutting disc.
* failing that, angle grinder.
* failing that, new wall 🙂
* failing that, move house…

I’m disappointed there’s been no suggestion of a splash of petrol in the socket and light it…

Dremel a slot through the ball and bolt then use a screwdriver to unscrew it.

I did that to remove three wall anchors left behind by the previous occupants of our house. Worked fine. A great big flat blade scewdriver with hex on the shaft so you can apply extra leverage is a good call, though obviously the bolt will be toast.

Maybe try some freeze spray? It might shrink the balls enough that they are easier to pick out. No idea if it would work, but got to be worth a try

Can’t see that working, balls retreat further inside when cold.

If it’s cold enough don’t they disappear completely?

Good thinking. Hit them really hard with a bicycle saddle and they’ll never be seen again.

Welding a blob to the bolt head and unscrewing using mole-grips is probably the simplest, quickest and most-effective solution, compared to the other options listed.

Only downside is you need the welding gear.

I drilled a hole in the head of the bolt alongside the ball, and then used a hammer and punch to tap the bolt around. It took ages x4, it was a rented garage so thankfully I hadn’t tightened the bolts super tight.

Do you really need to move them… Just add more anchors. Probably won’t be much more expensive than buying loads of replacement countersunk anchor bolts…

Very strong and hard punch. Ask a good friend to hold it with the tip as best he can in what little space there may be between the ball and the bolt. Smack it one. Really bloody hard with two hands. With a hammer in your hands as well! It may well pop out and if it doesn’t you now have something that may well help you undo the bolt.
Worked for me.
You see why your mates hands are useful!

Get your bench and drag it next to the bolt head Hit the bolt head with s hammer The bb will ping out and roll under the bench and you will never find it again

easygirl

Get your bench and drag it next to the bolt head Hit the bolt head with s hammer The bb will ping out and roll under the bench and you will never find it again

🤣 I like it! Invoking the law of Sod.

Dremel slot should be number one, used this loads on knackered screw heads.

If a Dremel attack doesn’t work, I’d cut my losses and attack it with an angle grinder.

Anchor is relatively inexpensive compared to the time spend trying to get it out in a re-usable condition – and the bolts will probably cost nearly as much as the whole thing.

Get your bench and drag it next to the bolt head Hit the bolt head with s hammer The bb will ping out and roll under the bench and you will never find it again

😀

and the bolts will probably cost nearly as much as the whole thing

You’re not far wrong – £13 delivered for a replacement anchor including the bolts (and ball bearings).

You see why your mates hands are useful!

If you miss the punch with the BFH you don’t get mashed fingers. Your mate on the other hand….😁