Problem w/ Thermostat install
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Teching In
Joined: Apr 2002
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Problem w/ Thermostat install Well, today i went to install my hypertech 160 thermostat. And well, today just wasn't my lucky day. I got the old one off and all, and as i was tightening the bolts back to 89 in/lb and the top bolt head snapped off. So, of course, the stud part of the bolt is still in the hole, and but i got the bottom one in succesfully. So i finished up the install, just praying that there would be no leaks or anything, and so far, after driving a couple of miles, it seems to be fine. However, i am sure if it is fine for now, it wont be for long. Could someone please tell me if they think it will be ok, or what, if anything, i can do? I have no idea how i would be able to fix this one. Thanks.
Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install Get a Ryoby with cut off wheel and cut a slot in the screw,then use a screwdriver to get out <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install There're easy-outs, and there are easy-outs.
The cheap ones are easy-to-break. Then you're
left with an undrillable chunk of hardened
steel embedded in your busted-off bolt.
I think the ones with the straight flutes,
like from Snap-On, are going to be better
than the everybody's-got-'em spiral ones
you find in the Fine Imported Tools section
of the flea market.
The other hot tip is to find a reverse drill
bit. They make 'em, mainly for this sort of
thing. With any luck, the bolt shank will
back out while you're drilling and the easy-
out won't even get used.
Seems like it ought to be very hard to snap
a bolt w/ 89 lb-in of torque. That's like
7.5 lb-ft. You'd be using a 1/4", lb-in
scale torque wrench, right?
The cheap ones are easy-to-break. Then you're
left with an undrillable chunk of hardened
steel embedded in your busted-off bolt.
I think the ones with the straight flutes,
like from Snap-On, are going to be better
than the everybody's-got-'em spiral ones
you find in the Fine Imported Tools section
of the flea market.
The other hot tip is to find a reverse drill
bit. They make 'em, mainly for this sort of
thing. With any luck, the bolt shank will
back out while you're drilling and the easy-
out won't even get used.
Seems like it ought to be very hard to snap
a bolt w/ 89 lb-in of torque. That's like
7.5 lb-ft. You'd be using a 1/4", lb-in
scale torque wrench, right?
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Warner Robins, GA
Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by mobius:
<strong>ever hear of an easy out? drill hole insert easy out turn counter clockwise... replace with new unbroken bolt.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep this works great. Friend did the same thing Saturday and I used a easy out and it came right out.
<strong>ever hear of an easy out? drill hole insert easy out turn counter clockwise... replace with new unbroken bolt.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yep this works great. Friend did the same thing Saturday and I used a easy out and it came right out.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install What type of drill can i use to squeze inbetween the hole and the fans? thats a tight fit, maybe 6 inches at the most, I dont know of any conventional drills that small to squeeze in there, how do i drill it? Also, where can i get these easy out things, any hardware store?
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Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install I use a 90 degree pneumatic drill and a reverse drill bit would be choice. I have been an aircraft mechanic for the Marine Corps for 22 years and I will be the first to say that not all bolts are created equal. I've done jobs that have taken dozens of bolts and sometimes there is that one that just snaps. Such is life when you work on meachanical stuff. I would not reccommend the spiral easy out though, I have many bad nightmares due to them snapping as was mentioned earlier in this thread.
topfig
MGySgt USMC
topfig
MGySgt USMC
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 228
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From: Warner Robins, GA
Re: Problem w/ Thermostat install </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by PewterWS6'01:
<strong>What type of drill can i use to squeze inbetween the hole and the fans? thats a tight fit, maybe 6 inches at the most, I dont know of any conventional drills that small to squeeze in there, how do i drill it? Also, where can i get these easy out things, any hardware store?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I used a 90 degree pneumatic as mentioned above. I also removed the fans which is very easy to do. Just take off the radiator support on top and the fans just push straight up and out. Not saying that you have to remove them but it will give you a little more room to work with.
Edit: you can usually find them at hardware stores (Sears, Lowes, Home Depot) but I have a snap-on easy out kit. Also, you might want to get a center punch because the drill bit will want to walk off the broken part of the screw as it is not flat. Just punch a indention in the center of the broken bolt to allow the bit to have something to rest in.
<small>[ May 02, 2002, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Rob98Z ]</small>
<strong>What type of drill can i use to squeze inbetween the hole and the fans? thats a tight fit, maybe 6 inches at the most, I dont know of any conventional drills that small to squeeze in there, how do i drill it? Also, where can i get these easy out things, any hardware store?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I used a 90 degree pneumatic as mentioned above. I also removed the fans which is very easy to do. Just take off the radiator support on top and the fans just push straight up and out. Not saying that you have to remove them but it will give you a little more room to work with.
Edit: you can usually find them at hardware stores (Sears, Lowes, Home Depot) but I have a snap-on easy out kit. Also, you might want to get a center punch because the drill bit will want to walk off the broken part of the screw as it is not flat. Just punch a indention in the center of the broken bolt to allow the bit to have something to rest in.
<small>[ May 02, 2002, 08:46 AM: Message edited by: Rob98Z ]</small>