Date:         Sun, 21 Nov 2004 23:46:45 -0600
Reply-To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: flywheel bolts stuck
Comments: To: rrecardo@WEBTV.NET
Comments: cc: KR2NO@EARTHLINK.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20508-41A125A7-3381@storefull-3176.bay.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

These bolts are SOCKET HEAD screws. AKA Allen head. These babies are
always really tight. In such cases
one cannot afford to fail, so I spent the money and bought a Snap-on
10mm hex driver. I'm sure a Mac, or Stahwille or other quality brand
would work as well. I'll bet I've pulled almost 100 ft-lbs to get them out.
YES! You can drill them out. They are NOT stuck, they are TIGHT! As soon
as you break them loose, you can get the stubs out with your fingers.
And there will be a little stub there, too. enough to get it with a
needle nose.
You could use a die grinder and a stone, maybe a Dremel. Be sure to wear
eye protection.
I'm a fan of heat, but here there is no way a propane or even an
oxy-acetylene torch will help you. Maybe a super expert torch user could
cut the head of the bolt off, but most would damage the flex plate or
the crank end.
One thing that DOES help in situations like this is shock. When I put
the 6 point bit in, I hit it a couple of very smart whacks with a 32 oz.
sledge. Surprising how much this helps.
Al Brase


Robert Cardo wrote:

>And here is where the problem lies.
>Throw the 12 point socket's in the garbage.
>This is what rounded the heads of the bolts to start with.
>Especially with an impact driver or gun.
>Hammer a 6 point socket on the bolts, then wack them with the impact
>driver.
>12 point sockets are not to be used with any impact tool.
>
>Propane won't get the flex plate hub hot enough to loosen the bolts
>either.
>
>
>E-mail message
>
> I might try hitting it with a propane torch and hammering in a bigger
>12-pt, add some curses if the kids are out of earshot....
>
>
>