Need help... broken bolt
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Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Tx
Need help... broken bolt
I was trying to torque my intake manifold bolt back to specs when I broke the first bolt. Only the thread part is stuck in the heads. I try drilling and using a extractor to get bolt out. The extractor than break and is now stuck in the bolt also. I'm tempted just put the intake back on with 7 bolt and hope it don't leaj. Any suggestions?
Last edited by Youmadbro; Apr 17, 2017 at 08:59 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
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From: corpus christi Texas
I was trying to torque my intake manifold bolt back to specs when I broke the first bolt. Only the thread part is stuck in the heads. I try drilling and using a extractor to get bolt out. The extractor than break and is now stuck in the bolt also. I'm tempted just put the intake back on with 7 bolt and hope it don't leaj. Any suggestions?
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
Can you post a pic? Depending on how much of the bolt is exposed or recessed in the hole, sometimes the corner of a small chisel or sharp pointed punch setting on the outer edge of the bolt held at an angle and hit counterclockwise with a hammer can turn the bolt out.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 253
Likes: 12
From: Ogden Utah
Get the bolt out, Install all the bolts back in. If you got the extractor from harbor freight
it would explain why it broke.
Pay someone with a portable welder to build up the bolt like Pagasawingnut says.
Remember we always have time to do it over the right way!
it would explain why it broke.
Pay someone with a portable welder to build up the bolt like Pagasawingnut says.
Remember we always have time to do it over the right way!
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Brett Foote
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tonawanda New York
machinist here, yes that technique, works well, or drill it out and tap it with a left handed tap.
Last edited by Don-Vette; Apr 18, 2017 at 08:20 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 178
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From: Austin TX
This is to small of a bolt to weld something on top of it, or with my welding experience with MIG i'd never attempt it. Plus extractors most of time are not "just" steel. So not even sure if you can weld on it. Breaking a bolt is easy, breaking a extractor is nightmare. I'd say your options are:
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 294
From: Texas
Originally Posted by IansInGarage
This is to small of a bolt to weld something on top of it, or with my welding experience with MIG i'd never attempt it. Plus extractors most of time are not "just" steel. So not even sure if you can weld on it. Breaking a bolt is easy, breaking a extractor is nightmare. I'd say your options are:
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
Or once you have the head off you might just be able to turn the bolt out with a pair of vise grips's from the other side of the head...
If it was my car I'd take the head off and do it correctly, quit screwing around.
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St. Jude Donor '09
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Lincoln CA
This is to small of a bolt to weld something on top of it, or with my welding experience with MIG i'd never attempt it. Plus extractors most of time are not "just" steel. So not even sure if you can weld on it. Breaking a bolt is easy, breaking a extractor is nightmare. I'd say your options are:
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
1. Grind it flat or just make sure the extractor left in head isn't bigger than original bolt. Bolt up intake manifold as normal and check for leaks after installation. If you are lucky, the one bolt missing won't cause a vac leak. Usually you hear leak, but also spraying starter fluid around area that your concerned with seal while engine is running and being scared of RPMs raising (vac leak).
2. Remove head and take to machine shop to extract.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Mesquite NV
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
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From: Phoenix area, AZ
**** in one hand and hope in another and see which one fills up first.
You need to pull the head and do this job right. Reinstalling with 7 bolts will eventually lead to a leak, and that's not a matter of "if," but when.
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St. Jude Donor '09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Atlanta GA
This is to small of a bolt to weld something on top of it, or with my welding experience with MIG i'd never attempt it. Plus extractors most of time are not "just" steel. So not even sure if you can weld on it. Breaking a bolt is easy, breaking a extractor is nightmare. .
Absolutely 100 % Agree ... not a shot in HE##LL at welding anything to the top of that skinny bolt let alone the broken extractor .... there is not enough " Meat" to try and tap it out with a chisel either
Take a chance and try it with just one bolt , what do you have to loose ? if not , don't make things worse , take the head off and take it to a machine shop
When I changed my manifold out I started each one of those bolts and spun them in as far as I could by hand , then used my inch pound wrench to finish the job , most the time I will make a second pass at torqueing the bolts but with these ... I left well enough alone
Good luck and let us know how it turns out