Ever try Walton tap extractor?

[86k10]

I was in the process of tapping a exhaust hole on a Maxxforce 7 and the tap just broke with little resistance. This is my first time breaking a tap and I always did it right. It just broke, maybe due to heat? I don't know.

I found online a Walton Tap Extractor

http://www.waltontools.com/products/extractr.htm

We got one thru Kimball on order and will get there Monday or Tuesday.

What had been your luck on using these? The tap broke off jagged and about 1/8-3/16" in side the hole and I can't chip at it with a punch or anything because it is too damn close to the frame rail.

Any other ideas if this don't work?

 

[Outlawmws]

It depends on just how stuck the tap is... it might work great, and it may ****** up the fingers that engage the tap. One key is getting the collar down against the tap or the casting you are in. if the fingers have room to flex, they will just twist up...

 

[ford guy]

The Walton extractor will work....sometimes!
Don't get in a hurry, and you may want to try & tighten it a little before attempting to back it out. Also, get the "fingers" in the flutes as far in as you can, and ensure the collar is slid down close to the broken tap. Another good idea is to buy extra "fingers"!
Good Luck

Bob

 

[Strouty]

I found that it worked, but destroyed the fingers. The tap was out, so I guess it worked even though I had to replace the fingers. They were not that expensive, so I guess it depends on if you get taps stuck a lot. I give it a thumbs up.

 

[JASTECH]

Good deal then, I have a set of Walton's from the 60's. Other then that you would need to drill the tap with a left hand drill bit. I think the best I have is Norsman and CryoBit.

 

[Roots]

We had a few sets of those Walton Tap Extractors at work. They do work great when you can use them, depending on the tap and how it broke. Sometimes it's still easier to drill out and retap a size up.

 

[bobcatdan]

The big thing is to get the flutes of the tap as cleared out as possible to insert the fingers in as deep as possible. Taking the time to take care makes them work just about eveytime.

 

[86k10]

Ok, Thanks for the feedback. If I get the tap out and the extractor fingers are already broke and need to be replaced I would be plenty fine with that. It sure beats taking off the head to get access.

What kind of drill bit would one use to drill out an tap? I thought they were damn near un-drillable?

I will report back if it does or doesn't work. I can't find one locally for nothing. Grainger don't list them and I called a local tool surplus store and he said no.

 

[garfunkle24]

Ok, Thanks for the feedback. If I get the tap out and the extractor fingers are already broke and need to be replaced I would be plenty fine with that. It sure beats taking off the head to get access.

What kind of drill bit would one use to drill out an tap? I thought they were damn near un-drillable?

I will report back if it does or doesn't work. I can't find one locally for nothing. Grainger don't list them and I called a local tool surplus store and he said no.

Cobalt bits will drill a tap and carbide bits would do even better. Not cheap though.

 

[86k10]

Well I got the tap extractor and I got the little SOB out, bent the arms of the new tool but I didn't care. It could of shattered in pieces as long as it got the broken tap out. I am going to order more arms for it but it was a life saver.

Big thumbs up. Never heard of this tool until last week.

 

[srmofo]

Ive only got 1 tap broken off and I just used a hardened chisels and a few hard blows from a hammer. Broke it into little pieces that I pulled out with a magnet

 

[ford guy]

Congrats! I know the relief you felt once the tap was out! I would rather sacrifice a cheap set of fingers each time I had to use it....as long as it came out.

Bob

 

[bobcatdan]

I have found the extractor fingers to be way longer then I have ever been able to insert them. IF it twist the fingers up, I just cut them back. I have found I can do this two or so times before the fingers are junk. They are kinda soft, I can nip them with a side cutters.