Seized Allen Bolt Removal - Your Method?

[pstadt]

I confirmed a fear today that the new sail drive boots won't stretch enough to slide over the Volvo folding prop blades, but they come off in a fairly uncomplicated manner.....

Except when the retaining bolts are seized to the bronze hubs. I was afraid of wringing them off with too much torque today, so I simply cleaned the areas as best I could and plan on applying healthy quantities of penetrating fluid as the next step....

Unless you can recommend a better approach? Please, suggest away!

Pat

[rbk]

On top of what you’re planning try heat (torch) if there are no seals to destroy close to the bolts you’re removing, get it too hot to touch but not glowing. Once heated smack with a center punch to shock it, or if you have an impact driver. If you’re worried about stripping it, try a snipe on it and tighten it slightly to try and break it free. If non of that works you may be drilling them out. Good luck.

[Sberg]

Pstadt, are they definitely seized from dissimilar metal connection?
On the retaining screws of my folding props (Gori) I use the recommended loctite and using a heat gun softens this when I need to take them out.
Just another suggestion
Stef

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by rbk

... If you’re worried about stripping it, try a snipe on it and tighten it slightly to try and break it free. If non of that works you may be drilling them out. Good luck.

Interesting.
I’d never heard of a “Snipe” Bolt Extractor.
➥ https://www.newmantools.com/snipe.htm

[Ostinato]

I too recommend a heat gun. If you have time there are relatively inexpensive ones now that you can dial in your temperature making this kind out work more precise. Try Amazon if interested.

[rbk]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Interesting.
I’d never heard of a “Snipe” Bolt Extractor.
➥ https://www.newmantools.com/snipe.htm

Also interested. Not what I had in mind either. I was thinking a piece of small pipe on the end of an hex key or off a socket wrench with hex bit.

[Suijin]

The first thing I would do is give them a long soak in weasel piss (50% acetone 50% ATF) and see if that helps before moving on to heat. A heat gun may not be enough and you might need to pull out the torch.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Suijin

The first thing I would do is give them a long soak in weasel piss (50% acetone 50% ATF) and see if that helps before moving on to heat. A heat gun may not be enough and you might need to pull out the torch.

Weasel piss????

🤣

[pstadt]

Wow! I'm learning some new words, thanks!

The snipe tool (easy-out) is a great tool if I can drill a hole precisely enough into the (what I think is) stainless bolt...thanks.

I just bought half of the WP elixir yesterday for some surface prep on the saildrives...I'll pick up some ATF and give that a try.

Just for info, the props are the standard Volvo three bladed folding props that haven't been removed since factory install. The bolts in question provide a stop to the axle pins holding each blade in to the hub. No idea if FP used any kind of loctite/anti-seize when installing.

Thanks! I'll let you know how it works out.

Pat

[flyingfin]

Torch, cool, repeat many times over many hours up to several days. Every other cycle hit it hard head on with hammer and punch. You never want to strip out an allen bolt - drilling one out can take days of patient drilling.

[captlloyd]

I don’t know about you folks but I never, ever, had any luck with an “ easy out”. If a bolt is seized enough to snap off an easy out ain’t going to work.

[DocHolliday]

Heat it and melt a birthday candle into the threads

[akprb]

Is this all being undertaken to get the new saildrive “boots” on. I’m assuming you are talking about the rubber piece that is suppose to seal the lower drive unit and hull?

[oleman]

A very simple and effective tool is the old fashioned "smack with a hammer" impact wrench. The shock from a hammer blow and rotation caused by the blow is effective BUT you have to have room for the tool that has to be inline with the fastener. It also does not shear off the fastener because it only rotates a few degrees when smacked.
Soak, heat, impact. AND make sure you use good quality fitting tools so as to not round out the fastener.

Good luck with your project.

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by oleman

A very simple and effective tool is the old fashioned "smack with a hammer" impact wrench.

agree. and you can vary the force of the hammer depending on what is needed. i know this from experience