"AMuzi" <
a...@yellowjersey.org> wrote in message
news:njq1ld$rhs$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 6/14/2016 5:15 PM, Mark J. wrote:
>> On 6/14/2016 2:16 PM, Ian Field wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> "jbeattie" <
jbeat...@msn.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eaecba25-fe7f-4dc1...@googlegroups.com...
>>>> On Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 12:24:13 PM UTC-7,
>>>>> First thing that comes to mind is finding a gunsmith
>>>>> willing to tackle
>>>>> the extraction.
>>>>>
>>>>> OTOH, I have no way of judging such a person and it
>>>>> seems like the wrong
>>>>> person could really mess this thing up.... as in metal
>>>>> filings in the
>>>>> innards and/or a broken-off bolt with nothing to grab on
>>>>> to for further
>>>>> extraction efforts.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thoughts ?
>>>>
>>>> I'd drill it and use an extractor.
>>>
>>> That's a skilled job - slightly off center can destroy the
>>> thread - and
>>> you get 2 bites at the cherry; once when drilling a hole
>>> for the
>>> extractor, and again when using the extractor. With small
>>> bolts, its
>>> damn near impossible.
>>>
>>> If the bolt head stands proud with no obstruction, a
>>> hacksaw (or junior
>>> hacksaw) can make an adequate screwdriver slot. Otherwise
>>> a narrow cold
>>> chisel may be the last ditch method. That obviously
>>> carries the risk of
>>> damaging the assembly - sometimes if you strip the head of
>>> a Torx bolt,
>>> you're just screwed!
>>>
>>> One last resort is drilling the head off - if its holding
>>> a decent
>>> thickness of flange, there might be enough shank standing
>>> proud for
>>> vise-grips when you get the assembly apart.
>>
>> OK, so I'm confused by your reply. Sure, if you drill down
>> into the bolt's shank, everything you say sounds correct.
>> But can't you drill a larger, shallow dimple into the torx
>> head, and use a larger-size extractor to bite into the
>> head? (Oh, and try some penetrating oil first, because that
>> bolt must be pretty seized to destroy a torx fitting, no?)
>> Or maybe just take the extractor directly to the existing
>> torx hole?
>>
>> OR (serious question, really) - does my suggestion not
>> work? Nearly tried this about two weeks ago with a tiny
>> allen bolt, then I managed to get it out with the proper key
>> on my "last try" before going to implements of destruction.
>> Turns out it wasn't anywhere near as seized as I thought,
>> thankfully.
>>
>> Mark J.
>
> Yes, there are cases where tapping a slightly larger Torx or allen key
> into the head can give enough purchase to move it. The thread locker may
> resist that effort.
>
> Slitting across the head with a hacksaw can work. The heat of that will
> probably break your loctite so a flat screwdriver could turn it out.
>
> Making flats or dimples on the outer edges with a die grinder and a rotary
> file works the same. There's localized heat for your loctite and then the
> head may be grasped with a mini vise (mole) grip and turned out. I like
> that better than a flat screwdriver but either is a reasonable path.
When stripping old scrap hard drives, some of them have Torx heads that
strip easy. Jumbo size sidecutters can pinch the side of the screw head well
enough to get it moving.
If you end up drilling for an extractor and that method fails (it often
does). As long as the hole isn't too far off center, Helicoil or V-coil
inserts may save the day.