Date:         Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:43:39 -0800
Reply-To:     Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject:      Re: You know how just when you think you're wrapping up,
              the radiator bleeder screw head shears off?
Comments: To: Mike South <msouth@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAN483vcgeW6Ab9V9bydHOcs_asjmiFa1ziL-6ZDMkt68mPAwHA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

This happened to me in the summer - those brass bolts are really soft.
 I had just replaced my radiator, so it was not old, but I was
probably guilty of over tightening it.

I was able to get the bolt out just by carefully poking the top of the
sheared bolt.  With no force down on it (whole head snapped off), it
was easy to rotate.  And what luck, I had the perfect sized bolt
(steel though) in my van's tool box.  I have the old rad still, so I
have a brass one as well, I just have not been bothered to put it in.
I suspect since brass is softer, it is less likely to leak?

The only disappointing part was thinking I was done bleeding it and
having to re-do it since it sprayed a ton of coolant out (it was half
closed).  :/

Tom


On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 2:27 AM, Mike South <msouth@gmail.com> wrote:
> As the subject says, I was closing the bleeder screw and the head sheared
> right off.  Wasn't applying too much torque, but maybe it was because I had
> done that in the past.  Anyway, the good news is that it was all coolant
> coming out; I think it was adequately burped!
>
> So.
>
> (A) Time to get one of those screw extractor thingies I guess.
>
> Recommendations on which kind/brand?  (I'm looking at
>
> http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/TTN0/16013/N0673.oap
>
> because it says it's in stock and I'm trying to be done with this thing.)
>
> More importantly, though, how am I going to get that extractor into the top
> of the screw?  Bringing up
>
> (B) Bentley 19.12 refers to "lowering" the radiator.  When it's in it's
> "lowered" state will I be able to get at the screw, or am I going to have
> to completely disconnect it?
>
> (C) Does anyone know the specs on this bolt?  Does it need to be a certain
> type of metal?  I would just order one but I'm trying to get this thing on
> the road ASAP so I can check it out thoroughly for a longer drive.  It
> would be nice to be able to just grab one from the hardware store if that's
> possible.