Before you remove a hex bolt, especially if you know it is going to be a bear to remove - I do the following. - clean out the head of the bolt with 'rost off' and a wire brush. - use a hex socket and not a hex key. - whack the socket with a BFH (big freaking hammer). - tighten the bolt just a bit Usually if I do those steps it comes loose. The tightening thing sounds weird, but it does usually work for me, I think you are pre-stressing the head in the opposite direct that is about to get stripped in. David Marshall Fast Forward Automotive Inc. 4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3 http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160 - Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions - Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation - European Lighting for most Volkswagen models -----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Jason Willenbrock Sent: September 7, 2003 7:52 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: hex bolts
why did vw have to use so many hex bolts? every vanagon i have owned, i have stripped the hex bolts trying to remove them, wether it be on coolant stuff or on cv stuff. most recent, the hex bolt on the left engine side, metal coolant pipe from thermostat housing to h20 pump. the under hex bolt at pump which is hard to reach. i can not get my 6 mm hex key to fit. it is border line stripped. if someone has a good ideas, it can still be removed. i tried hammering it into place to no avail, corrosion is strong. i need to remove this to replace h2o pump. will keep working at it tomorrow, i just wanted to vent my frustrations with hex bolts? am i alone here, or does everyone have these problems jason 90gl 87 syncro westy project
Fast, faster, fastest: Upgrade to Cable or DSL today! |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.