Stripped Torx

hd4evr · 07-12-2008, 09:41 AM

Suggestions on how to remove a stripped Torx bolt from my derby cover. I got 4 loose and the last one is so tight I twisted the Torx trying to get it loose. I'm afraid I might have stripped it a little because the Torx "spun" in the bolt head. Help??

Dodsfall · 07-12-2008, 09:53 AM

There are a couple of different options. One would be to use an Easy Out, they can be found at most hardware stores. These are for the most desparate situations.
http://www.brokentap.com/easy-outs.html

The first solution I would try is an impact driver. These are fairly cheap to buy and I have had a lot of success with them in the past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_driver

Edit: Make sure to replace the bolt once you get it out. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future.

07-12-2008, 10:30 AM

This has worked for me, but I would only do it as a last resort. You might find an allen wrench that fits snuggly into the stripped hole (trying standard & metric). Perhaps if coaxed in with a light hammering. If you’re lucky just enough to get enough torque to loosen it.

07-12-2008, 12:20 PM

Morning Hd4Evr and welcome to the Forum!

Yeah, looks like folks pretty much covered it and little else I could suggest. Except if you feel like you reached the point where the air around you has turned completely Blue, and you're on the brim of going to start seriously mucking up stuff, STOP (the trick is to recognize that point BEFORE crossing it!

)!!!! Bring what ya' gotta' bring into your local machine shop and let the Pro's deal with it. Been there / done that / nuff' said.

Funny (?) thing of it is, be it Hondas or Harleys (or the last time was a Kawi) I've never had a bad experience yet just bringing in anything I had into any (mostly) Automotive or (rarer) MC Machine shop. I guess parts is parts....

At the very least then you do have my sympathies. A 1,000x curses upon H-D for putting on these blankety-blank Torx Fasteners on the later model H-D's. Natch' had to go out and stock up sets of Torx tools after getting my FXDL - pain in the kiester (though always do love buying new tools truthfully!

).

LRG

Dodsfall · 07-12-2008, 05:28 PM

I had a CL350 Honda that used Philips head bolts to hold the engine together. Talk about potential to strip out! That was the year I purchased an impact driver.

hd4evr · 07-12-2008, 10:26 PM

Thanks for all the help guys! I finally just drilled the heads off the bolts and got them out.....took about 3 1/2 hrs. but it's done! I HATE Torx bolts!

slicknick218 · 07-12-2008, 10:37 PM

I feel your pain! Any chance I get I replace a torx head bolt with a socket head bolt. Congrats on getting it out, but for future reference one trick I have learned is with a dremal and a steady hand you can make many stripped out bolts into a flat head and then I am a fan of the impact driver the other guys were speaking of.

Dodsfall · 07-12-2008, 10:43 PM

I checked and saw Sears sells a Craftsman impact driver for about $25. If you ever use it even once, it's worth the price.

slicknick218 · 07-13-2008, 10:08 AM

When I bought mine it was $4 at harbor freight tools. There stuff is great for when you need a tool you aren't going to use all the time. They sell online too at Harborfreight.com

Dodsfall · 07-13-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slicknick218

When I bought mine it was $4 at harbor freight tools.

I bought mine for about $5 back in 1984 or so. That's a great deal.

slicknick218 · 07-13-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

I bought mine for about $5 back in 1984 or so. That's a great deal.

I get all excited about getting new tools. It was only about 6 months ago when I bought mine (2 of them actually because I got one to keep at work also.)

pintslayer · 07-13-2008, 10:08 PM

Get in the habit of dipping your Torx bits in grinding compound every three or four times you use them. You'll never strip one out again.

slicknick218 · 07-14-2008, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pintslayer

Get in the habit of dipping your Torx bits in grinding compound every three or four times you use them. You'll never strip one out again.

What is grinding compound and where can I get it?

pintslayer · 07-14-2008, 08:37 AM

It's basically grease with abrasive in it. Clover is the most common brand and you can get it at just about any auto parts store. It's good on the tips of screwdrivers as well.

Dodsfall · 07-14-2008, 08:47 AM

I've never heard of using that. Great idea!

The service manual also calls for the use of loctite on certain fasteners. It's a good idea to check the manual before replacing the bolts.

Is there a general rule for which fasteners require loctite?

07-14-2008, 11:57 AM

^^ I have bought/used this under the brand name "Instant Screw-Medic" and it contains very small grindings of silicone carbide in an oil base that help increase the screwdriver's traction quite a bit! Sounds like snake-oil but it has worked miracles for me. You might find it at someplace like Home Depot (etc.).

pintslayer · 07-14-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

I've never heard of using that. Great idea!

The service manual also calls for the use of loctite on certain fasteners. It's a good idea to check the manual before replacing the bolts.

Is there a general rule for which fasteners require loctite?

Loc-tite is vital on things like clutch hub nuts and compensator sprockets. I've seen techs that put it on everything they can get their hands on. Me, I prefer to use a torque wrench, and rely on Loc-tite as little as possible. Loc-tite has caused more stripped out fasteners than anything else. Use the blue if it's anything you think you're going to want to take off without an impact wrench.

If you get to a fastener that is Loc-tited and won't budge, get your soldering iron out and hold it on the head of the fastener. This will weaken the Loc-tite and you don't have to take a MAP torch to your shiny parts.

07-12-2008, 09:41 AM	#1
hd4evr The Older I Get The Faster I Was Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northern Ohio Posts: 42	Stripped Torx Suggestions on how to remove a stripped Torx bolt from my derby cover. I got 4 loose and the last one is so tight I twisted the Torx trying to get it loose. I'm afraid I might have stripped it a little because the Torx "spun" in the bolt head. Help??

07-12-2008, 09:53 AM	#2
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,879	There are a couple of different options. One would be to use an Easy Out, they can be found at most hardware stores. These are for the most desparate situations. http://www.brokentap.com/easy-outs.html The first solution I would try is an impact driver. These are fairly cheap to buy and I have had a lot of success with them in the past. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_driver Edit: Make sure to replace the bolt once you get it out. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future. Last edited by Dodsfall; 07-12-2008 at 09:58 AM..

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07-12-2008, 10:30 AM	#3
Custom85VT Guest Posts: n/a	This has worked for me, but I would only do it as a last resort. You might find an allen wrench that fits snuggly into the stripped hole (trying standard & metric). Perhaps if coaxed in with a light hammering. If you’re lucky just enough to get enough torque to loosen it.

07-12-2008, 12:20 PM	#4
LowRiderGhost Guest Posts: n/a	Morning Hd4Evr and welcome to the Forum! Yeah, looks like folks pretty much covered it and little else I could suggest. Except if you feel like you reached the point where the air around you has turned completely Blue, and you're on the brim of going to start seriously mucking up stuff, STOP (the trick is to recognize that point BEFORE crossing it! )!!!! Bring what ya' gotta' bring into your local machine shop and let the Pro's deal with it. Been there / done that / nuff' said. Funny (?) thing of it is, be it Hondas or Harleys (or the last time was a Kawi) I've never had a bad experience yet just bringing in anything I had into any (mostly) Automotive or (rarer) MC Machine shop. I guess parts is parts.... At the very least then you do have my sympathies. A 1,000x curses upon H-D for putting on these blankety-blank Torx Fasteners on the later model H-D's. Natch' had to go out and stock up sets of Torx tools after getting my FXDL - pain in the kiester (though always do love buying new tools truthfully! ). LRG

07-12-2008, 05:28 PM	#5
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,879	I had a CL350 Honda that used Philips head bolts to hold the engine together. Talk about potential to strip out! That was the year I purchased an impact driver.

07-12-2008, 10:26 PM	#6
hd4evr The Older I Get The Faster I Was Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northern Ohio Posts: 42	Thanks for all the help guys! I finally just drilled the heads off the bolts and got them out.....took about 3 1/2 hrs. but it's done! I HATE Torx bolts!

07-12-2008, 10:37 PM	#7
slicknick218 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 383	I feel your pain! Any chance I get I replace a torx head bolt with a socket head bolt. Congrats on getting it out, but for future reference one trick I have learned is with a dremal and a steady hand you can make many stripped out bolts into a flat head and then I am a fan of the impact driver the other guys were speaking of.

07-12-2008, 10:43 PM	#8
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,879	I checked and saw Sears sells a Craftsman impact driver for about $25. If you ever use it even once, it's worth the price.

07-13-2008, 10:08 AM	#9
slicknick218 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 383	When I bought mine it was $4 at harbor freight tools. There stuff is great for when you need a tool you aren't going to use all the time. They sell online too at Harborfreight.com

07-13-2008, 10:08 PM	#12
pintslayer Banned Join Date: May 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,005	Get in the habit of dipping your Torx bits in grinding compound every three or four times you use them. You'll never strip one out again.

07-14-2008, 08:37 AM	#14
pintslayer Banned Join Date: May 2008 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,005	It's basically grease with abrasive in it. Clover is the most common brand and you can get it at just about any auto parts store. It's good on the tips of screwdrivers as well.

07-14-2008, 08:47 AM	#15
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,879	I've never heard of using that. Great idea! The service manual also calls for the use of loctite on certain fasteners. It's a good idea to check the manual before replacing the bolts. Is there a general rule for which fasteners require loctite?

07-14-2008, 11:57 AM	#16
Custom85VT Guest Posts: n/a	^^ I have bought/used this under the brand name "Instant Screw-Medic" and it contains very small grindings of silicone carbide in an oil base that help increase the screwdriver's traction quite a bit! Sounds like snake-oil but it has worked miracles for me. You might find it at someplace like Home Depot (etc.).