[mandown]

I have a BB7 and the hex heads on some of the bolts in the linkage plates are starting to round out. The bolts are in there pretty tight (I am guessing Loctite was used when it was built). Any advice on the best way to set them free so they can be replaced with new bolts?

 

[Kornphlake]

search function.

Can a mod please make a sticky on how to get bolts out?

 

[mandown]

my concern is more about the rounding heads than the fact that the bolts are sticky.

 

[Kornphlake]

Ah, newbies.

The question on how to get bolts out comes up here and in the other forums weekly. I'd like a Moderator (forum member who has access to administrative functions) to make a sticky (thread that stays at the top of the forum) with instructions on different ways to get a bolt out.

Again try the search function, there are plenty of threads on how to get stuck, rounded, stripped, galled, broken, botched and otherwise fubared bolts out.

 

[mandown]

i had tried searching, but i was searching for "rounding." searching "stripped" worked better. i tend to think of "stripped" in tearms of bolt threads, not bolt heads. despite the condescending tone of the responses, i appreciate the help.

 

[oldfart]

If the heads are rounding, buy new bolts then remove the old ones with vice grips which will of course destroy them. You might need some penetrating oil in there and or some heat to soften the locktite. A lot of skiers use epoxy on the binding threads and the trick to remove those screws if stuck, is to use a drill with a small bit which fits inside the posidrive notches and run it in reverse at high speed. The friction often creates anough heat to soften the epoxy and release the stuck screw. If the bolt head is already buggered, try using a worn drill bit to drill a dent in the head. Might create enough heat to loosen things, but not so much that it melts bearing seals and grease.

 

[joshg]

Craftsman makes a cool little set of socket looking tools made esp. for this task. I got a set for my birthday and they come in really handy. Id reccomend trying them, they are fairly reasonably priced and fit mulitudes of different sized fastners.