Oldssupreme

Darn! I over torqued one of the valve cover bolts and it snapped off in the head. I tried to hammer in an extractor, to no avail. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Chris

jeff in colorado

there are different types of extractors. Can you drill into the bolt at all? If so, an easy out may work.

oldcutlass

Drill and extractor. Do you have a picture?

Rocketowner

Did it break off above the cylinder head or even with the head.?Can you get to it to center punch and drill the bolt ?If so, you should be able to hammer an extractor into the hole and back it out. You might try heating it with a small propane torch if necessary,being cautious that that the heat is held directly on the bolt. Good luck, Larry

Oldssupreme

I did pretty well to drill it out. I got a lot out then the bit broke inside the hole. Ugh. I can get a little bit of grip by putting the original bolt in the hole. If worse comes to worse should i trim the bolt and use it like that? I am able to get 3/16" of the bolt down into the hole... Would that be enough to secure the valve cover if i can get the bit/ bolt combo out?
As always, Thanks!
Chris

Oldssupreme

Ok, im going to scream now... i was do ing well, got the threader in, and then broke the threader in the hole. So now i have nothing....

My442

If a bolt breaks flush, I always weld a nut to the stub of the bolt.

If it breaks below the surface, I take the part to my machine shop for EDM, which is designed for broken bolts.

Rocketowner

From the picture, it appears that you might still center punch the center of the bolt then dril
with a 1/8" bit ,then a 3/16" and tap the ease out made for a 3/16" hole ,and maybe it will back out. If not,maybe the 3/16 " depth will work to hold that corner of the valve cover if it will tighten the valve cover enough to not leak.Its not like you would need to "torque it".
Larry

Oldssupreme

Thanks guys, i really truly appreciate all of your time and help through everything in this project.
Chris

oldcutlass

Did you get the bit out?

Oldssupreme

Oldcutlass unfortunately no. I was using what I think was a harder than steel bit because it was cutting through the bolt before it broke but none of the other bits could even make a dent in it. So I might have to go out and get a titanium set and try that.

oldcutlass

You may be able to weld or have someone weld a nut to the tooling that is not too deep broken off in the hole and twist it out. The deeper piece, I don't know.