[mobius]

I have a control tech seatpost i got free and one of the bolts stripped and wont come off so I cant change my saddle to the one i just got to fit it. I have no cash to buy a new post since i just spent 200 dollars i don't have on parts (mom loan). How can i get the allen bolt out i tried a dremel and screw driver but no go and a plyer won't twist it out no room. How do you drill out bolts?

Thanks

 

[sub6]

oh man. Dude, that sucks hard, i'm sorry!! : Did you strip out the head, or the threads? Or is it just that the steel insert on the top half of the clamp is spinning?

Get a drill bit that's about the size of the bolt head, and just drill right down the center. Before too long the bolt head will just pop off and you'll be set.

 

[mobius]

Originally posted by sub6
oh man. Dude, that sucks hard, i'm sorry!! : Did you strip out the head, or the threads? Or is it just that the steel insert on the top half of the clamp is spinning?

Get a drill bit that's about the size of the bolt head, and just drill right down the center. Before too long the bolt head will just pop off and you'll be set.

The head is stripped it rusted since someone neglected to tell me it didnt have stainless steel bolts BEFORE i washed my bike. Which way do i drill considering i can only drill in and i dont see how drilling into the bolt would spin it out without reversing.

 

[sub6]

nah, you're not gonna reverse it out UNLESS you get one of those special bits - if you go to a hardware store you can get one, it's sorta "reverse-threaded" so that when you put the drill in reverse, it still drills in; a normal bit won't drill in reverse.

I was just thinking you drill in "forward" with a normal bit, in essence grinding the head off of the bolt, then everything will come apart. You'll need a new bolt obviously......

 

[mobius]

Originally posted by sub6
nah, you're not gonna reverse it out UNLESS you get one of those special bits - if you go to a hardware store you can get one, it's sorta "reverse-threaded" so that when you put the drill in reverse, it still drills in; a normal bit won't drill in reverse.

I was just thinking you drill in "forward" with a normal bit, in essence grinding the head off of the bolt, then everything will come apart. You'll need a new bolt obviously......

Dude get on AIM you are seriously confusing me on how drilling a hole directly into the bolts top is gonna make it come out . I'll just goto Lowe's to pickup bolts anyway.

 

[foesrider]

you can get what they call an easy out drill bit what it does is you drill a small hole in the head of the bolt about 3/8" deep then you use the easy out bit it has like a revese screw thread so it grabs and spins it out you can get it at sears or even a hardware store

 

[foesrider]

easy out and drill bit

 

[mobius]

My neighbor who does wood working said they were rare nowadays but i dunno he said he will try to get the bolt out tonight since he has heavyduty drills and drillbits better then mine. If not its ok i got a spare post coming for free cough sub6 cough. And just gonna buy a salsa post when i get spare cash.

 

[Matt D]

you can also just drill out the bolt completely with the regular bit, just be careful not to touch the threads of the nut.

Or you can use your dremel to make a slot in the bolt head for a flat head screwdriver.

 

[mobius]

Originally posted by Matt D
you can also just drill out the bolt completely with the regular bit, just be careful not to touch the threads of the nut.

Or you can use your dremel to make a slot in the bolt head for a flat head screwdriver.

Tried the slot couldnt get enough torque to get out. Tried the drill the bolt head off but my drill wouldnt penetrate and its a high speed power drill. Left it to the neighbor he might if not ill just save for thomson asap and use the ugly one sub6 is sending me.

 

[bomberz1qr20]

Buy a cheapo bmx post till you have money for a new Thomson, in the meantime cut the Control Tech apart with your dremel's cutting wheel to get the saddle off. Those posts are garbage.

http://www.danscomp.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&item=473018

 

[Rev.Chuck]

A couple of things, when drilling a hard material(steel,stainless steel) you DO NOT want speed you want low rpm's with a steady pressure, just enough that you pull a nice thin curl.
An easy out will often not work when trying to remove a stuck bolt. If the diameter of the bolt was not strong enough to get the bolt out, then the smaller diameter of the eay out won"t do it either. The bolt and threads will have to be drilled and a HeliCoil installed. This mostly aplies to when you break the head off.
If you have a stripped socket(allen) head, try driving a torx head into the screw, often this will work to get the screw out.
Be careful if you drill the head off a screw to get it out. Once you have drilled it off you have nothing to get a hold of and if the threads are the reason it is stuck you have a bigger problem.
The Helicoil is your friend, heat is your friend(heat really loosens stuff up) Take your wore out tools and throw those damn things in the trash!

 

[mobius]

My neighbor got the bolt out so its all good thanks guys.

 

[Repack]

For stripped heads, the best way I have found to get them out requires a dremmel tool or any other rotary tool. Use the cutting disc to turn the bolt into a slotted screw. Then proceed to remove. A screwdriver witha T-handle grip will work best. If you have the type of post with the bolts side by side, tighten the good bolt to relieve stress. If the bolts are set up like a Thompson, loosen the other bolt. This is much quicker than drilling, and a cutting disc is cheaper than an easy out set. Now all you need is a rotary tool! If this fails, brake out the drill!