| Author | Message | ||
     Pittsburgh_guy |
So, I'm changing my oil yesterday and everything is going normal until I start tightening the bolts on my filter cover. Usually, I hand tighten then I use the digital torque wrench. BUT this time, I'm tightening and all of the sudden the bolt breaks off oh about 1/2 inch falls off in my hands. Then the other is where it's supposed to be... when the bolt is tightened. Anyone have a idea how I can get it out? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Getting broken bolts out of something like that can be a frustrating process. It's very easy to make things WORSE if you do something wrong. I'd start by pulling the oil filter cover back off. Maybe by some miracle there's a little of the bolt sticking out that you can grab with some ViceGrip pliers and screw it out. If not, the next step would be to purchase a left-handed drill bit of the appropriate size (smaller than the bolt). CAREFULLY center punch the bolt in the exact center, and using a reversible drill, drill into the center of the bolt. Sometimes the heat of drilling and the left handed action of the bit will grab the bolt and screw it right out while you're drilling. If you drill all the way through the bolt and it hasn't come out on its own, the next step is to try an Easy Out. It's also left-hand threaded; you twist it into the hole you just drilled in the center of the bolt until it bites, and keep turning to screw the bolt back out. The big catch with the drill bit and especially the Easy Out, is that they can break off in the bolt. Now you've not only got a broken bolt, you've got a piece of nearly diamond-hard tool steel embedded in it making further attempts to get the bolt out even harder. It's also easy to get the drill bit off-center which will wind up hosing up the hole, resulting in a damaged hole in your crankcase that has to be somehow repaired. If after reading all that you're understandably hesitant to tackle the job, I'd suggest you call your dealer, a local independent shop, or a good machine shop and ask what they'd charge you to fix it. Someone with lots of experience removing bolts like this might get it right out and not charge you much for the effort. | ||
| Cme2c |
When I broke mine off, the bolt broke off and left enough of the bolt sticking out of the block that I could grab it with some visegrips after I took the filter cover off. It appeared the bolts were designed to stretch and break that way without stripping the engine block threads. Boy, if yours is broken off back in the block, I dunno. I know I was sick until I pulled the cover off and found the bolt sticking out enough to grab it. Good luck man! | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
I guess I was really really lucky, I was able to use my hand once I pulled the oil cover back off to get the bolt out. My heart-attack has been avoided. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Sweet! I'll swear- I have never had good luck using torque wrenches on small bolts. Leave off the torque wrench when you replace it and go for gud-n-tite.  | ||
| Hogzilla |
You lucked out. I had to cut a grove with a dermal and use a screw driver to back it out. It will work in some situations, not all. | ||
| Kc10_fe |
You cant use retard strength on anything smaller than a 1/4-20 or M6. Too easy to snap. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Um...the manual spec is INCH-pounds of torque...not FOOT-pounds. I went out and bought a small torque wrench (a clicker Craftsman like my 'big' LB-FT one) when I got the CR...and it makes life MUCH easier. | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
It was set correctly to inches, not ft-lbs as you had indicated above. Question is now can i just run to Lowes and pick up another bolt or should I actually order one from a dealership? (Message edited by Pittsburgh_Guy on June 21, 2010) | ||
| Ccryder |
The answer is yes. You can use another bolt for now and pick up the correct one from the dealer. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Wow, I'm surprised it broke at inches of force... Take a good bolt to Lowe's with you so you can match thread pitch, length, and head diameter, and as noted...use it till the right bolt comes in. | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
Just a quick update, went to Lowes got a replacement for now. I plan on attending the QS&L event tomorrow, so I'll stop at Biketown to order/get another bolt. After inspecting the bolt, it looks bad where it broke. Maybe an air bubble or something. I'm going to show the service guys and see what there thoughts are. I know someone mentioned they are 'meant' to stretch. I know I've never heard of a bolt like this 'meant' to stretch | ||
| Datsaxman |
Pittburgh, ALL bolts stretch when they are tensioned. The deformation is what keeps them in place. Do your homework, man! | ||
| Datsaxman |
Oh, and the reason guys like Hughlysses DON'T use a torque wrench (and get away with it) is that you can FEEL the bolt elongating as it gets up to the correct tension. A learned skill to be sure, but easy enough. | ||
| Vinix |
Does the filter cover mate to a flush machined surface, or is there a O-ring to make the seal? The service manual does not mention a O-ring. I'm coming up on the filter change miles, and am curious. I think this has happened to several others, and I may just order the bolts when replacing the filter. | ||
| Pittsburgh_guy |
Vinix, First let me say, an oil change on the 1125R is very easy and if you have the right tools and a tad bit of know-how. To answer your questions, there is an o-ring that creates the seal on the filter cover. If you buy your filters from the guy on ebay(there's another recent thread about this), it's almost like a kit. The o-rings, both crush washers, and the filters. He's really cheap compared to dealers and even better, it's a HiFlo filter. I would say there is no need to buy the bolts as if you have a larger Lowes in the area as they have better bolts than the dealership. Which is why I'm just keeping those and not ordering new ones. But if you want to have them on back up to compare when you pull them out. Go to the specialty bolt section, they are an M6 35mm long. There is a vast section at mine so I just picked up one with the same 30 torx head in black stainless. Datsaxman, Never thought about it like that, but I've never seen a bolt stretch 5mm before as mine did with such little force. | ||
| Datsaxman |
5mm ?????? That is WAY too much over a 35mm shank. Like...HOLY COW! Only ones I have seen with that much stretch are in two pieces... |
