Allen Bolt trouble

[stork65]

Does any one know a way to get an allen head bolt out once the head has been stripped without using a tap/dye set?

I am trying to remove my light bar because I keep hitting trees with it and wanted to go to a windsheild mounts. Once it is off it is up for graps (Olympus bar fits four lights)

Help???

[Jeeper38]

if it has a convex head(sticks out in a dome shape) try grind a small groove on one side and trying to gently tap it in the loosening direction(counterclockwise) until it comes loose. You can do this if it has the tapered head that sits flush with the mounting surface but it is much more difficult.

[stork65]

if it has a convex head(sticks out in a dome shape) try grind a small groove on one side and trying to gently tap it in the loosening direction(counterclockwise) until it comes loose. You can do this if it has the tapered head that sits flush with the mounting surface but it is much more difficult.

Just my luck. It has a tapered head and sits flush to surface. Is there a way to do it without a grinder? Drill?

[Jeeper38]

U can try sticking a torx in it if you can find one that fits tight enough. that works pretty good sometimes or u could get caveman on it and try to find a common screw driver that you can pound into the hole and then use vise grips to turn it but other than that ur gonna be at least grinding or drilling

[stork65]

U can try sticking a torx in it if you can find one that fits tight enough. that works pretty good sometimes or u could get caveman on it and try to find a common screw driver that you can pound into the hole and then use vise grips to turn it but other than that ur gonna be at least grinding or drilling


What is a torx? I gotta find some way to get it our so I can keep the threads. Worse case I guess I could drill our the entire screw and relace it with a large sleeve. ??

[brian613]

go to your motor pool and see if they will let you barrow a set of easy outs and a left handed drill bit (better yet go to your MP and ask one of the mechanics if he can help you. its not hard to get stripped bolts out you just have to have the proper tools or your gonna mess something up)

[Jeeper38]

a torx is the "star" style allen keys. Ultimatly bcs13 is right though. you may have to get a left handed bit and some easy outs. Just dont break of the easy out in the bolt. I've seen that before and it can be ugly.

[Jeeper38]

correction, bcs613, sorry

[stork65]

Cool thanks for your help. I will ya'll know how it turns out.

[Fred]

get a dremel and gring the paint off, then find the biggest size Torx Bit that will fit with "force" Hammer it in there, then put a tack weld onto the bit and the bolt, it'll come out

[stork65]

okay, ghost said he has an easy out and will help. my tool box is lacking