Help needed with broken bolt

[Richard T.]

While changing the water pump on the 62 this morning I managed to break a bolt off in the block. It's the stud that the generator brace mounts to. There's approx. 1/2" sticking out of the block and before I dive in I thought I'd ask to see who might have the best approach, heat, solvent, etc. I don't even want to think about pulling the motor. Thanks in advance. Rich # 2272

[Kurt B.]

Re: Help needed with broken bolt

There will probably be more scientific approaches posted here, but I would use lots of PB Blaster or some other good penetrating oil, then I would heat it with a torch, (I only have MAP Gas, I do not have a real acetylene torch) and get it red hot, let it cool down and as it is cooling speriodically pray again PB Blaster so it gets sucked into threads and when finally cool to the touch, try to turn it out with vise grips.
The heat thing always worked for me and was taught to me by an old race car mechanic. Used this same technique yesterday on some broken studs on my son's Honda. Patience and heat did the trick. Be sure to let it cool after you heat it as the heat causes expansion and contraction and breaks the threads loose. If you try to take it off while it is hot, it will not work because it has expanded and will be too tight to remove.
Wait until it cools, and I have always had good success.
Kurt

[Phil P.]

Re: Help needed with broken bolt

if you don't have access to a torch you can carefully hammer the end of the bolt and and then try with the visegrips---try cw and ccw while doing this---try not to twist the bolt off flush with the block or you could loose the center of the bolt which would be helpfull if you need to drill it out---good luck

[Timothy B.]

Re: Help needed with broken bolt

Rich,

I had good luck by heating the stud with a propane torch and melt candle wax into the threads. Do this twice and while warm try to turn the stud out of the block. The wax will smoke a bit but this worked great for my broken thermostat bolt. You do not have to heat very hot and be sure to protect the fuel line from heat.

[Richard T.]

Thanks All

Before using heat I had been soaking the threads with KROIL ( creeping oil) for about 20 minutes. I heated the stud till red hot and applied the candle wax, I did this two or three times and using vise grips while still hot it came right out. I guess the combination of oil and wax with the heat did the trick. Thanks for the responses. Rich

[Terry F.]

Re: Thanks All

I have loosened many bolts that were rusted in. The extreme heat melts the rust and allows the bolt to come out. I have had bolt start to get real tight on me as they start to cool in the process of lossening them. I then have to apply more heat and they keep coming out. You would think they would get tighter with the heat but they don't. I have use the wax technique and it seems to work well. Seems to get sucked into the threads or something. I hate drilling bolts out. Glad you got it out. Take care, Terry