Help … knackered button head hex bolt!

[Mervin]

just drill the head off now theres a good chance once thehead has gone the rest of the bolt will be fingertight or a pair of pliers will grip the remaining bolt piece and turn it

[Jug]

Buy a left handed drill bit as that might actually unscrew the bolt whilst you are drilling off the head.

[Tvrv37]

What material is it screwed into. Very difficult to drill steel bolts out of softer materials without cocking it up. I would centre punch the broken extractor then use a left handed drill bit. Apply some heat from a mini/kitchen blow torch first if you can do it without melting something plastic.

[MikeZ]

Just a note. When replacing that bolt, use an A4 stainless not an A2 stainless, much better and not that much more expensive.

[banditman]

These Irwin extractors are really good cos they grip the outside of the bolt

[Robbo87]

That looks a handy set of extractor sockets. I might have to indulge.

[Ruffian]

That looks a handy set of extractor sockets. I might have to indulge.

They are mighty handy.
Irwin do 2 sets of 5 to cover all normal sizes. And they do bite in very very hard which is brilliant.

I have abused mine and then some. Wouldn't be without a set now.

[Robbo87]

That looks a handy set of extractor sockets. I might have to indulge.

They are mighty handy.
Irwin do 2 sets of 5 to cover all normal sizes. And they do bite in very very hard which is brilliant.

I have abused mine and then some. Wouldn't be without a set now.

Cheers. As a dyed in the wool bodger this is something I NEED!

[DaveH]

Hmm . . . . . Is there room to dremel two flats on opposite sides of the screw head and then get an open ended spanner (or, in extremise, a good set of mole grips) at it?
Or, grind off the whole screw head (broke screw extractor and all), then drill out . . . . and rethread to one size bigger i.e. M5 to M6.
Or, ---------- // ------------------- ------------- // --------------- ---- // ------ . . . . to whatever size needed to accommodate a through bolt and backnut.
Or, ---------- // ------------------- ------------- // ----------------- ----- // ------- . . . . and fit a M4, M5 or M6 'Rivnut' - I have these, they're a godsend in situations like this. If you want to go down this route, I can do that at mine for you.

Hiya Phil … I gave the Dremel a go and there isn’t enough room to get in there … is the offer still open to bring it over to yours for more drastic measures??

[Robbo87]

Hmm . . . . . Is there room to dremel two flats on opposite sides of the screw head and then get an open ended spanner (or, in extremise, a good set of mole grips) at it?
Or, grind off the whole screw head (broke screw extractor and all), then drill out . . . . and rethread to one size bigger i.e. M5 to M6.
Or, ---------- // ------------------- ------------- // --------------- ---- // ------ . . . . to whatever size needed to accommodate a through bolt and backnut.
Or, ---------- // ------------------- ------------- // ----------------- ----- // ------- . . . . and fit a M4, M5 or M6 'Rivnut' - I have these, they're a godsend in situations like this. If you want to go down this route, I can do that at mine for you.

Hiya Phil … I gave the Dremel a go and there isn’t enough room to get in there … is the offer still open to bring it over to yours for more drastic measures??

Of course. Can you get to Ottery during the day? Make it early-ish p.m. if you can't. Thursday, Friday or Saturday suits me. I'm not weather dependant as have a heated garage .
If possible can you bring a cordless drill pls? My faithful Makita has blown its battery and a replacement won't be with me for over a week. If you don't have one, I can borrow one. Just let me know.
I'll p.m. you my address.

[DaveH]

Big thanks to Phil and his still unused Dremel extension shaft, drill bits, punches and magic hammer.

Job jobbed and my Africa Twin now has a little bit of Italian to her

[Robbo87]

You're welcome Dave, glad we sorted it. Your Africa Twin will be henceforth known as a Hondaprilia of course .

For the record, despite all the technological wizardry and tools available we cured the issue c/o a WW2 US army-issue centre punch, a mark 2 ball pein hammer (probably also of 1940's vintage, I've had it forever ) and a mark 1 eyeball.
Never forget the old saying folks (the one that Roy invented - probably) 'The art of bodge, it never fails'.

[royb]

Often forgotten, in many sizes, a hammer is a useful tool.