Posted by Paul (in NY) on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 4:25PM :
In Reply to: Help!! ....Snapped Bolts posted by Kevin in Rehoboth on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 3:35PM :
Well, this is not good. With nothing but pictures to form an attack, this is my best shot.
First I would clean up the threads so you could screw a grade 5 or 8 nut on the broken off bolt. Then, before screwing the nut on, I would heat it with a oxy/fuel gas torch, just barely a dull red (hardly changing color) and then touch a candle to the threads and let it melt all over the broken bolt. A lot of the wax will wick into the threads. Let her cool, this will make the stud contract and hopefully break the rust loose. I would repeat the heat and candle wax (maybe 5 times). Then screw the nut on the broken bolt and weld the nut on. Then with a 6 point wrench or 6 point socket, give her a try and see is it moves. If it moves (DONT) try to run it right out. But rather wiggle the bolt CW and CCW, keep expanding the turns. If she gets tight, try a little more heat and candle wax. Go slow and let the heat and wax do its job.
I used this exact method this afternoon pulling a broken off bolt on the M37 fender where the lower bracked is bolted. It was a 1/2 inch fine thread bolt, snapped off with only about 3/8" showing. It did come out clean.
Good Luck, keep us posted
Paul
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