Stripped bolt remover, harmonic balancer

Bob702 · Sep 7, 2011

So I got the Craftsman bolt out kit because 1 of my 6 mm harmonic balancer bolts rounded out on me. I soaked it with liquid wrench penetrating oil and hit it with a hammer, but it still stripped. So I'm going to try the remover tomorrow. Do I need to knock it all the way on, or when you turn it does the bolt remover go further in place because of helical shape? Has anyone ever used this and it not work? Or has it always been successful? I figure if it didn't turn out the head may snap off and then I'll just be placing a post about how to best tap it out

Thanks!

greengeeker · Sep 7, 2011

I've never had it not work.

Just give it a smart smack with your hammer to drive it onto the head.

If the head snaps off the balancer will come off and you will be able to unscrew the remaining portion of the bolt by hand.

Bob702 · Sep 8, 2011

I tried that smart smack with the hammer to drive it on, and then some! But it wouldnt stick on to the head of the bolt so I could start unscrewing it. It just skipped around. I'm going to try my friends impact gun tomorrow in the hopes that I can get some leverage behind it. That way I'm thinking even if it skips the force being applied behind it may drive it down on to the head. Any other ideas or input? Thanks!

BobnOH · Sep 8, 2011

next smaller size??or cut off the head?

dogdots · Sep 8, 2011

Just drive a 12mm 12point socket on there, it will come out. If not, just drill thru the head until it snaps off, then you can finger the remnant out.

ninedee_golf_tdi · Sep 8, 2011

I've found the best tool to use is a Blue Point TFSY13a, it just seems to fit better and grabs instantly without the need for a whack.

DidJettarun · Sep 8, 2011

Get Irwin bolt-out set or left-hand drill bits...

Bob702 · Sep 8, 2011

I was thinking I'd try getting the blue point tfsy13a. Atleast with that I can buy just the bit I need instead of a whole set. So it's the 13, not 12? If that doesn't work for whatever reason then I guess the heads coming off and I'll try to turn it out once I get the balancer off.

greengeeker · Sep 8, 2011

BobnOH said:
next smaller size??or cut off the head?

That's what I'm thinking. I use the #8 in the craftsman kit FWIW.

ninedee_golf_tdi · Sep 8, 2011

The tfsy13a fits like a glove and works like a champ. It has outlasted several of the craftsman bits already. Put it on the damper bolts, give it a twist and it digs right in without the need for any persuasion. This guy: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=65853&group_ID=11664

Bob702 · Sep 8, 2011

Gotcha. I think the set I originally bought only went to the #7. I just got the impact grade set today which has more bits, but it was $60! That's why I was thinking the blue point cuz I can buy the one bit for like $20.

Bob702 · Sep 8, 2011

So do you guys think I should go right to the impact? Or try a standard socket wrench first?

greengeeker · Sep 8, 2011

ninedee_golf_tdi said:
The tfsy13a fits like a glove and works like a champ. It has outlasted several of the craftsman bits already. Put it on the damper bolts, give it a twist and it digs right in without the need for any persuasion. This guy: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=65853&group_ID=11664

Nice. It's even 3/8" drive. When my craftsman wears out I'll have to pick one of these up.

hevster1 · Sep 8, 2011

You can drill the bolt head off with a quality cobalt bit in about 3 minutes. After it is off the remainder of the screw should come out by hand.

DidJettarun · Sep 9, 2011

Please explain to me how when the bolt will not unscrew by hand now, hence the need for bolt outs etc that it will just unscrew by hand after bolt head is removed. You will just be left with a shorter surface to use a tool to remove it in my opinion. Finding the correct bolt out and lavish use of penetrating oil seems a sounder path. And forgive me for double checking use counterclockwise.

KLXD · Sep 9, 2011

Their reasoning is that the bolt is simply overtightened. When the head is removed, the stress is relieved and the remainder will be loose.

If the threads are rusted this won't be the case.

ymz · Sep 9, 2011

KLXD said:
If the threads are rusted this won't be the case.

For those in the Rust-Belt, that's usually the case...

Y.

AARodriguez Corp. · Sep 9, 2011

I have removed many many of these stripped and rusted bolts, but the only tools I have used were cold chisels and a 3lb sledge hammer. Usually takes less than 2 mins per bolt.

Bob702 · Sep 9, 2011

The Blue Point TFSY13a worked like a charm! I did have to give it a whack with my hammer to set it on there, I put an extension on first so I wouldn't smack my finger

then I took the extension off and put on an 18 inch long socket wrench, counterheld the balancer, and it came right off! Thanks ninedee_golf_tdi and everyone else for your input!

ymz · Sep 9, 2011

Where did you find a Snap-On so quickly? Did a Snap-On truck happen to be driving down your street?

Yuri

Bob702 · Sep 9, 2011

Ha! Actually, I'm pretty persistent and after I found that the stores phone # isn't listed I kept searching the web and I wound up finding a phone #. it was the snap-on reps home #! so his wife gave me his cell # and he met me on his route the next morning

$20 later and the bolt was off!

gmenounos · Jun 7, 2012

DidJettarun said:
Get Irwin bolt-out set or left-hand drill bits...

The Irwin 1/2" (13mm) bolt-grip (from the 394001 5-piece set) worked great for me when combined with my impact wrench. Zipped right out without needing to counterhold the center bolt.

Greg

slyk · May 23, 2013

dogdots said:
Just drive a 12mm 12point socket on there, it will come out. If not, just drill thru the head until it snaps off, then you can finger the remnant out.

This worked like a dream for the rounded out bolts on the one I'm working on. Thanks for this great tip! Best of all, it didn't cost me any money or time going to the store!

JB05 · May 24, 2013

The bolts I removed were very clean due to the round, rubber cover having been in place. Three came out without having to counter hold the crank.

dogdots · May 24, 2013

JB05 said:
The bolts I removed were very clean due to the round, rubber cover having been in place. Three came out without having to counter hold the crank.

We don't have the luxury of a rubber cover on the ALH balancer

I usually just put my snap on 6mm allen socket in the bolt, whack whack whack with a hammer then zap them out with my little mg325 impact or my IR hammerhead. If I round one out I grab my 12mm 12 point and drive it on then zap it out.

I keep a few spares in my tool box and trade them out when they split.

gpooleii · Mar 8, 2015

got it out

dogdots said:
Just drive a 12mm 12point socket on there, it will come out. If not, just drill thru the head until it snaps off, then you can finger the remnant out.

Thanks dogdots. The 12mm socket brought it right out. Ha, it was much harder to get the socket off the head after it was out! Great tip

dogdots · Mar 8, 2015

gpooleii said:
Thanks dogdots. The 12mm socket brought it right out. Ha, it was much harder to get the socket off the head after it was out! Great tip

You're welcome

Stripped bolt remover, harmonic balancer

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