I rounded the heads trying to remove two M5 allen bolts on the left side spark plug covers on my Stone Ten. Could not believe it - WTF? - was being careful, and no problems with the ones on the right side. Got the sick-to-my-stomach feeling; how the hell am I gonna get those buggers out without damaging the plug cover or the surrounding valve cover?
I've had stuck bolts before, but never this small, and there was always room to get vice-grips on them, and collateral cosmetic damage was not a concern.
Different ballgame here.
Long story short is that after much research (including this forum) I succeeded using a double-ended screw/small bolt extractor - and my local ACE Hardware had exactly what I needed (see pic). Using the power drill's left/reverse direction, one end is used to drill the pilot hole, and the other bites/grabs the bolt/screw to extract it.
Practiced on an old, very similar M5 probably from one of my previous Guzzis. Easier and more straight-forward than I anticipated.
I DID notice softer metal while drilling the pilot holes on my rounded bolts than the practice one. Cheaper fastener?
And maybe the assembly person was a little careless.
I am just glad that I didn't bodge it, and I learned how to use a screw/small bolt extractor.
I'll tell ya though, when I first put that power drill onto that little wimpy stuck bolt on my brand new pretty Guzzi, I was scared to death!
I've had stuck bolts before, but never this small, and there was always room to get vice-grips on them, and collateral cosmetic damage was not a concern.
Different ballgame here.
Long story short is that after much research (including this forum) I succeeded using a double-ended screw/small bolt extractor - and my local ACE Hardware had exactly what I needed (see pic). Using the power drill's left/reverse direction, one end is used to drill the pilot hole, and the other bites/grabs the bolt/screw to extract it.
Practiced on an old, very similar M5 probably from one of my previous Guzzis. Easier and more straight-forward than I anticipated.
I DID notice softer metal while drilling the pilot holes on my rounded bolts than the practice one. Cheaper fastener?
And maybe the assembly person was a little careless.
I am just glad that I didn't bodge it, and I learned how to use a screw/small bolt extractor.
I'll tell ya though, when I first put that power drill onto that little wimpy stuck bolt on my brand new pretty Guzzi, I was scared to death!
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