Two Bolts Busted
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Two Bolts Busted
I am replacing a bad water pump on my '93 F-150 5.8L. Two bolts have busted while trying to loosen them. Can some one give me tips on how to fix this. Do I drill out the bolts and tap a new thread?
Thanks, Susie
Thanks, Susie
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From: Indiana
Two Bolts Busted
If they broke off just the head of the bolt squirt with some pennetrating oilsmack them with a hammer a couple of times and take them out with vise grips.
If they broke off flush smack them with a center punch and hammer a few times oil them down.Drill a hole in the middle of them and try to take them out with a bolt extractor.
You must be very careful not to drill at an angle or you may ruin the block or have to put in a heli coil.
For a little extra the guy at the machine shop may come to you and remove them.Sometimes thats the best way.
If they broke off flush smack them with a center punch and hammer a few times oil them down.Drill a hole in the middle of them and try to take them out with a bolt extractor.
You must be very careful not to drill at an angle or you may ruin the block or have to put in a heli coil.
For a little extra the guy at the machine shop may come to you and remove them.Sometimes thats the best way.
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Two Bolts Busted
Chris_ce has it...if just the head of the bolt broke off...then I would spray some PB Blast or some kinda penitrating oil,
let them soak over night..then take a hammer and smack the ends a couple times....might even smack them a couple of times while waiting for pb blast to do its job...then take a boltout or vicegrips and try to remove....if the bolt if broke flush with block..then you will need to exract the bolts by drilling and using a easy out ...but like chris_ce said..becareful and not drill the hole at a angle
let them soak over night..then take a hammer and smack the ends a couple times....might even smack them a couple of times while waiting for pb blast to do its job...then take a boltout or vicegrips and try to remove....if the bolt if broke flush with block..then you will need to exract the bolts by drilling and using a easy out ...but like chris_ce said..becareful and not drill the hole at a angle
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Two Bolts Busted
Thank you so much! Great advise. There is nothing left on the bolts, sticking out that is. The head on one has brocken off with the remainder of the bolt instide a bit and has nothing sticking out the back. The second one is stripped, the head moves but the back end is frozen.
Well I picked up a bolt extractor, I will have to do this tonight, too hot right now in Texas.
Thanks guys!
Susie
Well I picked up a bolt extractor, I will have to do this tonight, too hot right now in Texas.
Thanks guys!
Susie
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Two Bolts Busted
Good luck Susie..and I know what you mean about being to hot...unless you have ac in the garage....I work better at night when it is cool
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From: Pryor
Two Bolts Busted
Be really careful when using those "EZ-outs". If it breaks you are really gooned!! I've found the best thing is to use a left handed drill bit. It seems as though usually, just about the time you get a decent sized hole drilled, the bolt will start to back out. Something aobut the heat and continuous twisting seems to break them loose.
JJ
JJ
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Two Bolts Busted
Well I was not able to remove the bolts yet. After breaking 2 drill bits and 1 extractor, I was able to remove the water pump by breaking one of the bolts. Now I am left with one bolt that is busted flush, and one that has a little nub in the timing chain cover.
I want to drill out the flush one and leave the nub there. One guy told me to put the pump on without the two bolts and just make sure I seal good and check for leaks. Do you think this is ok? To have 2 bolts missing? They are on the top and there is one good bolt in between the two that are busted and there are 4 other good bolts ( 2 on each side).
wow, this is turning into a longer project than I expected, I have changed water pumps before but not with problems like this.
Thanks for your help, Susie
I want to drill out the flush one and leave the nub there. One guy told me to put the pump on without the two bolts and just make sure I seal good and check for leaks. Do you think this is ok? To have 2 bolts missing? They are on the top and there is one good bolt in between the two that are busted and there are 4 other good bolts ( 2 on each side).
wow, this is turning into a longer project than I expected, I have changed water pumps before but not with problems like this.
Thanks for your help, Susie
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From: Pryor
Two Bolts Busted
I guess it would probably work. I ran into this problem with a '88 Merkur. I just said screw it and drilled out the bolts and tapped holes. I had to go bigger and while I was at it I went American instaed of metric. I only had American taps anyway. It wasn't that hard. I was going into aluminum. I think drilling and tapping is the way to go.
JJ
JJ
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From: Oregon Coast
Two Bolts Busted
Do you want to do this again? I wouldn't even try to run a pump with two bolts missing.
The welded washer then nut works. I used to get out broken bolts for a living. I was the lead swingshift millwright in a really old mill and had to fix everything the day shift primadonna's messed up. If you were nearby I would give you a couple demos. Talk to someone at a muffler shop and they will also have a vast experience with broken bolts. There is a torch method as well but I usually save that as a last resort. The muffler guys will know how it works. It sounds crazy but it works.
The welded washer then nut works. I used to get out broken bolts for a living. I was the lead swingshift millwright in a really old mill and had to fix everything the day shift primadonna's messed up. If you were nearby I would give you a couple demos. Talk to someone at a muffler shop and they will also have a vast experience with broken bolts. There is a torch method as well but I usually save that as a last resort. The muffler guys will know how it works. It sounds crazy but it works.
Last edited by Hired Gun; Jul 22, 2003 at 10:21 PM.
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Two Bolts Busted
Hired Gun, I just don't have the option of welding, on my own. Which means I will have to pay someone to come out and do it for me. I don't mind paying to have something done but I live in a small town and I am new here, so my resources are limited. And most of all I would need someone that knows what they are doing. The mechanics I talk to tell me to drill and tap, not many mess with welding, when I bring it up, and not many want to help unless I am paying them. SO it is hard to get any decent advise, which is why I joined this forum. People are so nice here, different world.
I know I have to get those bolts out, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with them missing. Time to spend some money on some good drill bits. I have a metric tap set.
thanks for your help.
Susie .
I know I have to get those bolts out, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with them missing. Time to spend some money on some good drill bits. I have a metric tap set.
thanks for your help.
Susie .
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From: North of Toronto, Ontario
Two Bolts Busted
If you have tried everything else, you can try heating with the torches. You have to be careful though. Heat and cool, heat and cool. This doesn't work as good as heating cast and turning out the bolt, but the heating and cooling may break free the bolt.
If you DON'T cool down the aluminum, you will turn out the bolt, the threads, and may disfigure the timing cover. Be careful if you take this route.
These bolts are threaded into the aluminum cover and do not go through into the block correct? Once the bolt is out, drilling and re tapping sounds like a better plan.
Good luck
If you DON'T cool down the aluminum, you will turn out the bolt, the threads, and may disfigure the timing cover. Be careful if you take this route.
These bolts are threaded into the aluminum cover and do not go through into the block correct? Once the bolt is out, drilling and re tapping sounds like a better plan.
Good luck
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Two Bolts Busted
Try the candle trick. If you can heat the bolt, or what's left of it, apply a candle to the bolt when it's hot. Small birthday cake candles work fine. The wax will wick into the threads as it cools and help lubricate them.