Stripped Torx Star Head Bolt T595

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020.

Page 1 of 4
  1. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #1 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Oh, dear...not holding out a lot of hope here!
    The head bolts on my T595 have been used before and are worn. They’ve all cracked half a turn...but on the second round one of the bolt chewed, taking two of the teeth off the star bit with it.
    I don’t think it’s worth trying a new bit, it would only trash it, so what are the options now?
    Would you carry on a couple of turns with the rest and maybe then dremmel the top off it?
    I hear about cutting slots on lesser bolts, but can’t see that working on head bolts that are still massively torqued.
    It’s a corner bolt, in case that’s relevant to head distortion, etc.
     
    • Useful Useful x 1
  2. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #2 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    What about dremeling it out to create an allen?
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Love You Love You x 1
  3. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,263
    800
    Yorkshire
    #3 Pegscraper, Dec 10, 2020
    The bolt is obviously trashed so arc weld a nut or the old torx bit to it. Just take precautions for flying sparks and spatter. Drilling out and using an extractor is an option but on a tensioned head bolt you'll need luck on your side.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 2
  4. tcbandituk

    tcbandituk TC
    Subscriber

    Apr 8, 2016
    2,805
    1,000
    Reading
    #4 tcbandituk, Dec 10, 2020
    Mole Grips :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. Old dumb arse

    Old dumb arse Noble Member

    Mar 28, 2020
    906
    443
    KS
    #5 Old dumb arse, Dec 10, 2020
    Lube and Maybe tighten the good bolts again would relieve some of tension on the bad bolt. Left handed drill bits might be last resort
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  6. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #6 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Cheers, Pegscraper...wouldn’t the heat damage the alloy head, though?
    Would tapping a reverse-thread bolt into it be another option do you think?
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  7. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #7 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Many thanks for that, much appreciated.
    What’s the practice with left-handed drill bits, is that the same as putting a left-handed bolt into the shaft of the head bolt?
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,263
    800
    Yorkshire
    #8 Pegscraper, Dec 10, 2020
    Looking at the bolt pattern on your engine they look fairly easy to get to with the cams out of the way. Arc welding is a very localised heat source compared to gas. There is heat soak of course but not enough to cause damage IMO. I've used this on a car alloy head bolt and it worked. I used a piece of a fibre glass fire blanket as a shield.
    There isn't much depth there to tap a LH thread into the bolt head but it's another option. If the bolt has a steel washer under it, yet another option would be to carefully grind or drill off the bolt head leaving a stud to remove when the head comes off.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  9. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #9 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Many thanks for all your suggestions...it’s beginning to feel like I have options again :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,032
    1,000
    High Wycombe
    #10 Red Thunder, Dec 10, 2020
    edit - posted in wrong thread
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #11 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    • Like Like x 1
  12. andypandy

    andypandy Crème de la Crème

    Jan 10, 2016
    4,082
    1,000
    Shaw
    #12 andypandy, Dec 10, 2020
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. joe mc donald

    joe mc donald Joe
    Subscriber

    Dec 26, 2014
    14,316
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    #13 joe mc donald, Dec 10, 2020
    Stuart595.
    Yes I have used the easy outs and they are a bad idea. They tend to snap and when they snap in the bolt you won't even be able to drill. I still use them but if a bolt shows extra resistance I take them out. As said here before i would rather drill or Dremel the head of the bolt and try moulgrips.
    Joe.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
    800
    Nr Biggar
    #14 Callumity, Dec 10, 2020
    Those easy outs are not that easy to use. Is there enough clearance at the corner to use a Stilson (pipe wrench?) I have used them on vehicle brake bolts where heat has accelerated corrosion. Leverage tightens them.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #15 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Cheers, Joe,
    I guess I’m looking to approach things in stages, and the ‘if it looks like snapping stage,’ may be a valid part of a spiralling journey to drilling the head off and risking warping the head from the sudden release.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. StuarT595

    StuarT595 Active Member

    Nov 19, 2020
    204
    43
    South West UK
    #16 StuarT595, Dec 10, 2020
    Sadly not...it’s tight in there and the bolt top is domed and barely 5-7mm proud, and well protected by other head structures.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  17. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

    May 1, 2016
    1,662
    800
    Suffolk
    #17 Rocker, Dec 10, 2020
    I know its been said weld the broken torx bit into the bolt
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  18. tcbandituk

    tcbandituk TC
    Subscriber

    Apr 8, 2016
    2,805
    1,000
    Reading
    #18 tcbandituk, Dec 10, 2020
    Is it possible to cut a slot in the bolt head?
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. tcbandituk

    tcbandituk TC
    Subscriber

    Apr 8, 2016
    2,805
    1,000
    Reading
    #19 tcbandituk, Dec 10, 2020
    A pic might be a good idea, to see what the issues are with various techniques...
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
    800
    Nr Biggar
    #20 Callumity, Dec 10, 2020
    OK. Before ‘going large’ I would degrease the bolt (nail varnish remover!) and tor’s bit and araldite them together and leave overnight. If you have an impact driver to unscrew even better.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
Page 1 of 4
Loading...
Similar Threads - Stripped Torx Star
  1. David Gower

    Tiger Explorer Rear Brake Carrier Threads Stripped

    David Gower, May 21, 2024, in forum: Tiger / Explorer
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    670
    Eldon
    May 21, 2024
  2. ZoneIII

    R3t - Stripped Bevel Box Drain Plug.

    ZoneIII, Mar 17, 2020, in forum: Technical Help
    Replies:
    4
    Views:
    875
    TEZ 217
    Mar 17, 2020
  3. HughJarse

    Trophy 1200 Stripped For Repaint!

    HughJarse, Nov 13, 2017, in forum: Triumph General Discussion
    Replies:
    1
    Views:
    1,034
    adethetrade
    Nov 13, 2017
  4. Iceman

    765 Racetorx Triumph Gear Shift Support

    Iceman, Oct 8, 2023, in forum: Street Triple
    Replies:
    18
    Views:
    4,039
    Patchinko
    Jan 1, 2024
  5. Carl556

    Thruxton Speed Twin Throttle Spacers With Torx Bit

    Carl556, Aug 24, 2021, in forum: Thruxton, Scrambler & Trident
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    821
    Carl556
    Aug 24, 2021

Share This Page

Sign up