Stubborn bolts

Various, various and more various!
Post Reply
User avatar
Speedy88
Posts: 4057
Joined: 04 May 2009 11:52 pm
Location: Bristol

Stubborn bolts

Post by Speedy88 » 27 Jan 2010 05:43 pm

Arse. Tried to renew my gearbox oil today and of course both the filler and drain bolts were stuck fast. After some huffing and puffing tried a little bit of WD40 for 20 minutes. Came back, still no luck. Used a torque bar and the drain bolt was just too soft and ended up being rounded off. So I'm a bit stumped now, any ideas people? I can get the mole grips on it still and there is still some reminents of the bolt left (ie only the corners are rounded). A 13mm socket will just spin freely now though. Filler plug is still ok but was going the same way as the other bolt so I stopped. I can think that a blowtorch might help but seems a bit drastic.
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

User avatar
SteveP
*** V3M DONOR ***
Posts: 7933
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 12:45 pm
Location: Coventry, UK

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by SteveP » 27 Jan 2010 07:10 pm

Definitely concentrate on the filler bolt first...and getting hold of replacements

At this stage it's a tricky one... tricks of the trade I've heard are welding on another nut ontop of the plug, and hammering on a smaller socket eg. 12mm to a mashed drain plug
1989 - Volvo 360 GLT
1985 - Volvo 360 GLS
2008 - Volvo S60 SE Lux

mat_91
Posts: 636
Joined: 07 Oct 2009 08:50 pm
Location: nottinghamshire

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by mat_91 » 27 Jan 2010 11:17 pm

id weld on a bolt or thread on to the rounded bolt
if you can then un thread it
Image

User avatar
Speedy88
Posts: 4057
Joined: 04 May 2009 11:52 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by Speedy88 » 27 Jan 2010 11:53 pm

I'll have to give my mate a ring with the welder then. Wish I could afford one :(
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

Ride_on
Posts: 2262
Joined: 26 May 2009 05:34 pm
Location: Belfast, N. Ireland

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by Ride_on » 29 Jan 2010 02:24 am

Try hammering on a smaller socket, especially a multi cornered one (not 6 sider), 6 siders are better if they are not too damaged, and should always be used on high torque or suspect bolts to start with.

Also chisel on a corner and hammer, on an undoing side of course.

Summurised procedure:
Heat, hammer, bigger hammer, weld, hammer, bigger hammer, bin :wink:
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

whiskeyonesix
Posts: 373
Joined: 24 Nov 2008 12:43 pm
Location: Perth Australia
Contact:

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by whiskeyonesix » 29 Jan 2010 11:56 am

I'd suggest drilling them out, but it'd cause more trouble than it was worth I think. Or maybe a bit of heat on it? Careful.... :)

Hammering on a smaller socket may be the sensible way to go...
MKIII 360GLT Aus-spec B200EA 239K
Mods: custom paint fade
New Cylinder head.
Auxilary cooling fan.
195/60/14 Pyonghung Ditchfinder tyres
Vario Vents FTW

G8 4 DRFTN etc....

User avatar
Speedy88
Posts: 4057
Joined: 04 May 2009 11:52 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by Speedy88 » 29 Jan 2010 12:53 pm

I'll try and get an angle on it, it's a tight space to hammer in there! Cheers
'88 340 Williams (Sold)
'85 360 GLS - Drift project (Sold)
'77 Colt Sigma
'96 940 Drift project

tommysb
Posts: 342
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 08:58 pm
Location: Norwich, York

Re: Stubborn bolts

Post by tommysb » 02 Feb 2010 03:10 pm

Angle GRINDER i hope :D

THis has become my favourite tool for removing rounded off/stuck bolts which I have replacements for! 340pw

Post Reply