Options requested regarding rounded rocker bolt

[Toddler78]

want some advice regarding a rocker bolt that I have rounded. I tried to undo it and didnt bother to look at the socket, but it was a 12 sided socket not a 6 like I normally use. Anyhow, I could feel it starting to round off so I stopped, changed to a 6 sided socket but can still feel it sliding. I dont want to give it another try and completely round it off. any advice on what I should do?

[bush_basha]

Not sure how much room, but maybe vice grips, hammer and chisel, probably all last resorts tho. It's not on that cylinder with the pushrods pushing on it still causing it to be tight? Just some ideas.

[JezzaB]

So to confirm. An 8mm hex flank drive bit is slipping?

[macca33]

So to confirm. An 8mm hex flank drive bit is slipping?

I'm hoping that he used 8mm and not 5/16"

Have you got any Metrinch spanners / sockets Toddler? Otherwise turn the motor over until the valve in question is closed and try your best with the 6-sided socket. Try spraying some WD40 around the bolt-hole / boss first.

[swingtan]

There are a few options......

Use a quality 8mm impact driver socket and go for your life. If it's going to round off, there's not a lot you can do now.
Once it's rounded, try a decent stud remover on the bolt head.
If that doesn't work, try the welder trick to weld on a larger nut, welding the inside of the nut to the bot head.
If all else fails, cut the head off to remove the pressure from the bolt, then use a stud remover.


#1 should do it, just remember to "break" the bolt seal by building up the pressure in a rocking motion. Don't try and remove the bolt in a single throw of the socket arm, apply pressure and then back off. Re-apply slightly more pressure, then back off..... Build up the pressure till the bolt lets go, this way you reduce the risk of rounding the bolt head.

Simon.

[sikss]

ive got a tool to remove it mate. unfortunately im working today so pop past if u want to borrow it

[Toddler78]

thanks for the advice guys. just some more info, yes it was/is a 8mm socket. because its the rocker bolt I want to try and avoid traditional methods if possible to avoid filings in the head. the drive is just a std 1/4 drive 6 side drive but Im going to head down to supercheap and pick up a 3/8 drive flank socket if I can, I think I still have enough on it to have one last shot of it

will let you know how I get on

cheers

[vyss2ute]

I did the same thing. The easiest thing I found was to grab an very thin dremel cutting blade and cut a slot in the top of the bolt.
To ensure that contaminents didn't get into the engine, I used old rags and masking taped them off around and over the rockers, then used a little dust buster to clean up any filings. A decent screwdriver or better, a wrench with a flat head driver socket attached got that bolt out in no time flat.

[Dieselman]

Do you know anyone with a quality single hex socket set?? Something like Snap On or sidchrome will be a lot tighter on the bolt head than a cheapy brand from supercheap

[Toddler78]

Cheers for the advice guys. I ended up going for a couple of hour drive to a tool shop open today and bought a 1/2 drive impact socket and some decent vice grips. plan A socket and doing as per swingtan said rocked it back and forth but it eventually rounded off before cracking. Plan b vice grips but cant get enough purchase on the bolt to get it to turn. Plan c is centre punch and drill hole and hit it with an easy out, however that will be plan d now as I want to try every other option avaible to me before drilling into it. So I ll take sikss up on his offer and try his tool. If that fails then its easyout time.

On a side note at least that gave me time to fit my extractors today so all was not lost

will update with an outcome

[Woodchukka]

I did the same thing. The easiest thing I found was to grab an very thin dremel cutting blade and cut a slot in the top of the bolt.
To ensure that contaminents didn't get into the engine, I used old rags and masking taped them off around and over the rockers, then used a little dust buster to clean up any filings. A decent screwdriver or better, a wrench with a flat head driver socket attached got that bolt out in no time flat.

There have been occasions where I want to keep filings or swarf from drilling out of a sensitive area and I have found additional to placing rags is placing a magnet near the area quite effective. I have a couple of doughnut shaped magnets and a couple of sizes of the semicircular ones like in smaller electric motors which I place the area to be drilled in the middle of.

[Toddler78]

Oki Doki so update time and by my cander you guessed right I got the bolt out tonight. I ended up using Metrinch socket. First attemped that span off the bolt too, so I ended up bolting down the rocker next to it (they were all removed except for that one) to try and take some pressure off the offending bolt, then I started tighting the bolt to get it to turn. Once I got some movement tried to undo it again but slightly on angle to get some bite and low and behold it gave in and I got it out.

here is the offending bolt
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee226/Toddler78/roundedbolt.jpg

so big thanks to Garath from Willall for lending me the socket and also to Daniel (sikss) from Olsen Automotive for the offer (I was at Willall's today) this is the reason I have no hesitation recommending either of these workshops to people as they have offered to lend out THEIR TOOLS to me to help me out. I cant appreciate it enough as I am very careful who I lend my tools too as usually people either take their time to return them or damage them, and for these guys to offer goes along way in my book for the type of service they provide their customers

cheers for all of the advice guys, this really feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders as I really didnt want to drill it out! :thumbsup:

[brycieboy]

i see its is out now.. but another option if anyonle has issues is the irwin bolt extractors http://www.irwin.com/uploads/products/large/bolt-extractors-802.jpg

have used these many times on bolts even the round ones from the drive shafts.

[VX2VESS]

metrinch save the day most of the time. I have a couple of sets of those.

Noticed people worried about filings from trying to rescue bolts etc. But you probably already got some filings dropped from when you stripped the bolt edges.

[Woodchukka]

Noticed people worried about filings from trying to rescue bolts etc. But you probably already got some filings dropped from when you stripped the bolt edges.

True as that may be there is no need to add insult to injury by not protecting the engine from further contamination.

[Toddler78]

I suspect what has happened here is I torqued these down to 25Nm when I did my valve springs a few years back (as you are meant to) but I had to hang off a 1/2 drive 300mm breaker bar to crack these bolts. I suspect my torque wrench needs some calibrating. As such I am not prepared to torque up any more bolts with this wrench So I ahave ordered a new digital torque wrench and should have it by next week. This will tell me whether my original wrench was correct or not. either that or that bolt was soft

ps dont go rounding these off, holden want $15 each for them :shock:

[Roonstain]

I suspect what has happened here is I torqued these down to 25Nm when I did my valve springs a few years back (as you are meant to) but I had to hang off a 1/2 drive 300mm breaker bar to crack these bolts. I suspect my torque wrench needs some calibrating. As such I am not prepared to torque up any more bolts with this wrench So I ahave ordered a new digital torque wrench and should have it by next week. This will tell me whether my original wrench was correct or not. either that or that bolt was soft

ps dont go rounding these off, holden want $15 each for them :shock:

Rocker bolts are 22ft/lbs mate

[munz]

Rocker bolts are 22ft/lbs mate

I searched everywhere and still came up with 25ft/lbs, did mine last week and instructions supplied also said 25ft/lbs although I used hex head supplied bolts

[VX2VESS]

ps dont go rounding these off, holden want $15 each for them :shock:

probably about .30 cents each from the states going by all the other markups.