Removing a stuck allen bolt

[rliu]

A total beginner to having to do this but have a stuck allen bolt on each of my 2 bikes. So I gather I need a screw extractor, a tap wrench to use with screw extractor, and a drill. I just wanted to know if a hand drill would be powerful enough to use on an allen bolt.

 

[TissoT]

Would nt of thought so ! Take it to your LBS ... for them to snap it open

 

[Tim Hall]

Is it a question of having rounded out the hex hole in it or has the head busted off? Solutions involving screw extractors and tap wrenches are generally needed only for the latter.

 

[young Ed]

where on the bike are these allen screws?
Cheers Ed

 

[rliu]

One on the seatpost clamp and one on the expander bung/top cap for a carbon fork.

 

[young Ed]

One on the seatpost clamp and one on the expander bung/top cap for a carbon fork.

please don't virtually attack me if it sounds stupid but what about grinding the seatpost one off?
or if you have a a buddy who has and is skilled with a welder weld a bar onto the belt and unscrew it that way, done several times with success myself
Cheers Ed

 

[young Ed]

One on the seatpost clamp and one on the expander bung/top cap for a carbon fork.

please don't virtually attack me if it sounds stupid but what about grinding the seatpost one off?
or if you have a a buddy who has and is skilled with a welder weld a bar onto the belt and unscrew it that way, done several times with success myself
Cheers Ed

 

[Dangermouse]

I had a snapped allen bolt in my seat post, as it had snapped the tension was off and it screwed out easily with some long nose pliers, can you get some molegrips onto the head enough to turn or are the bolts recessed

edit..........just re read where the bolts are and will probably be recessed

 

[rliu]

Can you get at either the head or the shaft and cut a slot to put a screwdriver on it?

What's the best way of cutting a slot? This comes back to my initial question of whether I can use a hand drill for this purpose.

 

[classic33]

What's the best way of cutting a slot? This comes back to my initial question of whether I can use a hand drill for this purpose.

Hand drill won't be powerful enough. Or do you mean electric hand drill?
The latter will do the job.
How rounded out is the head? Can you get the head of a bolt pressed home into it. If so try two nuts on the bolt, turning the inner only. Locking it against the outer nut.
Other options include using a left-handed drill bit or small grinding stone. Even sharpening a masonary bit.
Seat post clamp, cut the bolt in the slot using a junior hacksaw blade, cutting on the pull stroke.

 

[jayonabike]

When one of the hex holes rounded out on my sons scooter we managed to hammer the next size up Allen key in and undone it as normal. Might be worth a try.

 

[MikeG]

please don't virtually attack me if it sounds stupid but what about grinding the seatpost one off?
or if you have a a buddy who has and is skilled with a welder weld a bar onto the belt and unscrew it that way, done several times with success myself
Cheers Ed

This works, but would wreck everything within 6 inches, as the heat is enormous.

Use a Dremmel, as has been said, to cut a slot for a straight screw-driver. However, soak the bolt first for 24 hours with a few drops of brake fluid. This soaks in and loosens the threads. If there is no paint nearby, you could use a hot air gun (paint stripper) on the bolt: the expansion and contraction is sometimes enough to free it up, but it can cause collateral damage. Be careful!

The other way is to use an epoxy (such as Araldite), and glue the allen key in place. Leave it for 48 hours, then you've got one go at undoing it!

 

[Globalti]

If a bolt is seated in something solid like an engine you can free it by giving it a sharp tap with a hammer, which breaks the bond around the threads. This makes it easier to unscrew if the head is damaged.

 

[Dangermouse]

The Dremmel method sounds good, where abouts are you..........I have a Dremmel and cutting disks that would get slots into the heads

 

[boydj]

For a rounded hex bolt, a slightly larger torx driver could be jammed an ind might turn the bolt.