Help!! I broke a bolt

[ArdWrknTrk]

Sioux drills are not quite 90* but their bowling pin shape and paddle speed control make them excellent close quarters drills.

Left hand cobalt bits are also a lifesaver. But if access is poor do not use the small ones.
Cobalt is too brittle for any meaningful side load.
Once you get past 3/16 or so you should be okay.
They seem to stay sharp longer, and are hard enough to bite.
Go slow, use plenty of pressure, and lubricant if you can.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Well, I guess I'm old and the Sioux 8000 is no more.



Damn fine little drills they were.
Much better ergonomics than trying to wrestle a 90* attachment, and a regular style drill.
The not quite 90 is about the same angle you can hold your hand back from your forearm, so it works well.

[86 1/2 Brutus]

I wish i had one of those Jim.  I remember them now them i see it.    The only thing small enough i could find was the Dewalt that i have a link for, but the reviews are so so bad, in particular the batteries.  I hope the 90 that i bought will do the job.

We are going to try the EZ out thing first, then if that fails, tap it.
Everything should be in by thursday, so its back to driving the vic.  I cant believe we've come this far, and a broken bolt has stopped Brutus dead in his tracks.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Eddie's plaque should be on the wall of every garage.

Many times I wish I had one of those to point to when someone is pestering me about why I'm taking my time with something.

Be sure to use the self adhesive gasket to hold the thermostat in place this time, okay George?

[Frank Wyatt]

How about this. https://hcisupplystore.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=103939&virtuemart_category_id=8156 Or this on Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-Close-Quarter-Power-Drill-55-Degree-Angle-Variable-Speed-1400rpm/254820459037?hash=item3b547ba21d:g:XkYAAOSw-l9ctlQt

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Jim.   Well out of everything that went on, when i got the old thermostat housing off, never fear, the old thermostat stayed right in there from the last time i changed it.  ummm 25 years ago.    But fear not, i always use the self asheasive gasket, and is ready to go into the truck, well, except for that pesky broken bolt thing.   I remember seeing that plaque everywhere as a kid, and yes, i do agree.   A while back , i tried out working on lawnmowers and weedeaters as a sideline, was thinking about doing it full time, until the need for that sign, and also the sign that said, Labor rates XXXX, If you worked on it first, XXXXX, if you want to help XX,XXXXX

The right angle attachment should be in tomorrow, I got everything else in yesterday so we should be good to go.  Hope all is well, It is supposed to snow down here next week

[scbill]

The best (other tool) is a spring loaded punch, the trick is to get it as close to center as possible, go with a small 1/8" bit then go larger according to the size eazyout , get it as straight and centered as possible, also soaking with PB Blaster, hope you did that while waiting on drill part.

[Machspeed]

George, I'm not familiar with the 300 6 and the location of that thermostat housing, but if you can apply "cautious" heat to that broken stud, it would be incredibly helpful. I like to do several episodes of heat with impact, as in taking a flat punch to the broken stud while it's hot. I then use PB blaster and let it sit overnight. The center punch advice mentioned is right on! Cheap tool, great investment for this project. It's very important that you drill exactly centered but also in perfect alignment with the broken stud....not always easy. If you maintain center/alignment and the easy out doesn't work, you can ultimately use a tap drill size correct for the needed tap and clean up the hole for the correct bolt size. If, however, you break that tap off in there you will most likely be pulling the head.

Good luck!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Even if you break the EZ-Out you're looking at having it EDM'd or destroying a couple of carbide burrs getting it out.

If I'm using an EZ-Out (and I like the square tapered ones) I try not to get the bolt too thin.
Everybody says drill it as big as you can, but EZ-Out's work by wedging themselves in what's left, and you don't want to expand that into the female thread.

I also might suggest an anerobic sealer on replacement.
If there's no space in the thread fit for electrolysis then no corrosion can happen.
PST doesn't significantly increase breakaway torque, and it does use PTFE as a thread lubricant.

Of course, this is not an indicated use and it is me being a geek

[86 1/2 Brutus]

I got a set of those as well.  I'm even thinking about getting some left hand drill bits

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Ok guys today is the day, its finally warm enough to go outside, now is the time to get started.

We doing the left handed drill bit first, then if that dont work, ez out, if that dont work, re-tap.  I've been soaking it all week long and am hoping against hope the left handed bit will do the trick.  Please keep Nick and i in your thoughts as we do this.  The heater core busted in the crown vic, we really need Brutus back up and running.

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Thank God for small miracles.  Brutus has to take a trip via a tow chain.  We broke the ez out off in the hole and cant get it out.  My neighbor called his son-in-law who owns a shop and is going to meet us there tomorrow and get it out and tap it for us.

[Gary Lewis]

Oops!  Been there, done that.  But it sounds like you are in good hands!

[Machspeed]

Sorry George. This will sound crazy, but there's a  feel one acquires for when an EZ out or even a tap is gonna snap. I pulled so many broken bolts in the AF that I was able to acquire that feel. One has to break many to acquire....lol! It's not fun breaking them, for sure. Keep us posted on Brutus.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

That's a bummer!
Hopefully you two will be back on the road with Brutus tomorrow.  

I'm not sure about your engine, but definitely use Loctite or some other sealant on that bolt if lt goes through to water.
When these things corrode on the back side they definitely won't come out.

I know exactly that 'feel' John speaks of.
The moment you think "just a little bit more" is the moment you should put down the tap wrench and walk away.
Tap wrenches are the thing for EZ-Out's too.

[86 1/2 Brutus]

I think about it like this.  I really dont know what i am doing when it comes to this, this guy does and isn't going to charge us anything thankfully.     The bolt dosent go into the water pump, it is the top bolt, it bolts to the head and dosent go through, its like there is a channel the bolt goes in, you can reach around where the thermostat goes and feel the bump sticking out where the bolt goes.  I definatly plan on using loctite trust me on that one:-)

[86 1/2 Brutus]

We back running the roads once again.  The guy took some kind of torch, not sure whart it was, but it just blew the busted bolt and the ez out right out of there, he cleaned it up and a new bolt went right in.  He put the housing back on for me and we were able to drive it back home.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Cool beans!  

Glad you're back mobile.

[Gary Lewis]

Congratulations!!!!  👍

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Turns out he is an old friend of Nicks.  He's going to do the exhaust on the ranchero for us