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Extractor kit to remove bolt with rounded off head

littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
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Anybody found a set that works, ideally available in the UK and including 14mm & 15mm.
Yes the head is that rounded off - some people shouldn't be allowed to play with air/battery guns
 
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finn

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The UP, God's country
MiG welder, a washer, and a nut works most of the time.

I generally try the common internal flute style first, but MiG welding until the head turns cherry red spares frustration.

The flute style are sold under several brands. Mine are Craftsman and maybe Lennox or Irwin but I think they’re all rebranded Lisle.
 

zimman

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Mar 2, 2014
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Mark Twain National Forest
Anybody found a set that works, ideally available in the UK and including 14mm & 15mm.
Yes the head is that rounded off - some people shouldn't be allowed to play with air/battery guns
How big and where's it at? I've cranked off a few bolts with these plyers from Snapon. The grip like no body's business.
Actually removed a bolt with a crowd of five folks. They were amazed.
Zimplyers vise.JPG
 
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littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
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15mm head and on the front caliper mounting frame of a mk2 Ford Focus, tried a 15mm 6 point socket, then hammered on a 14mm 'cause it was so rounded off and couldn't shift it with a 2' long bar
 

mike93lx

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Have you tried heat and/or penetrating fluid for help?

If the 14mm is biting, then you have a good first step and a different socket won't change the situation
 

johninct

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Dec 21, 2010
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I have a set from Snap-On (Bluepoint) that bite into the bolt head as you turn "off". They worked good on bolts that had their heads rusted away. I hammered them on.
 
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littlebean

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tried penetrating oil, nothing to hand to add heat (yes, I know shameful for someone or GJ and I should remedy immediately).
15mm is right size, just enough bite to make me think it had loosened off so I moved on to the other 3 bolts and got them loose.
then went back to the first to discover that it was biting just enough to feel like it was coming loose but then just spinning round the head.
after much swearing I got a 14mm on it but that span round as well
 

mike93lx

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tried penetrating oil, nothing to hand to add heat (yes, I know shameful for someone or GJ and I should remedy immediately).
15mm is right size, just enough bite to make me think it had loosened off so I moved on to the other 3 bolts and got them loose.
then went back to the first to discover that it was biting just enough to feel like it was coming loose but then just spinning round the head.
after much swearing I got a 14mm on it but that span round as well
Ah, OK, sounded like the 14mm wasn't spinning but the bolt was stuck
 

Kurt4440

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Jun 3, 2009
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Western New York
You have options, and you may need to utilize a few of them.
Bolt extractor sockets aka turbo sockets work well. Heat and penetrating sprays will help, along with shocking the bolt head with a hammer, just hammering on the extractor socket will help. Additionally, since one caliper bracket bolt is removed, try prying on the bracket to get some movement in the stuck bolt. An impact gun may help. If these efforts fail, break out the welder.

Screenshot_20251201-085745.Photos~2.jpg
 
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littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
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757
tried bolts back in and another go - nope - also tried getting the bracket to move to see if that would free it off, no luck there either.
have a possible option here at work thanks to the kind offer of another dept. so we'll see how that goes
 
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four.cycle

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^ Yeah... those things. I've had pretty good luck with them. Prices are all over the map.
 

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littlebean

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what another dept have lent me to try
 

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OneEyedMan

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Sep 4, 2015
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157
I have a set from Snap-On (Bluepoint) that bite into the bolt head as you turn "off". They worked good on bolts that had their heads rusted away. I hammered them on.
These are the best ones I’ve found, if a bit pricey. I have several of the Irwin/Craftsman ones and the Gearwrench version. Those work ok but the SO ones have the best track record for me.
 

MoonRise

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NJ
Astro Pneumatic Flabk Bite sockets (and box end wrenches) work well within their limits.

A shake-and-brake tool (Mayhew is one reputable company that makes them) on an impact hammer while you apply torque with a box or open end Wrench is another possibility. Or just a box end Wrench and the air hammer with a flat punch tapping on the bolt head while you apply torque. Sometimes the shaking vibration gets things moving just enough.

But it sounds like the head is rounding because the bolt is stuck. (Captain Obvious strikes again 🙄). Penetrating oil or heat is usually needed to help those ones. Not at the same time unless you are looking for smoke and flames. Shop made acetone and ATF mixture if you don't have anything 'better' (but I usually use Kroil, works pretty well).

That and some caliper bolts have red(ish) threadlocker one them from the factory. Red as in heat (500F or so) is needed to get the threadlock to let go. Pin point flame from an oxy-fuel torch usually works better than the broader flame from a plumber type air-propane torch.

Or go to the weld a nut on the existing bolt hex head approach. Gets you a bigger diameter to apply torque to and an intense focused heat during the welding. Sometimes it takes a few tries but it never failed me yet (crossfingers) removing a broken stud/bolt/screw when the head already snapped off because the threads were stuck.

That and try the approach of TIGHTEN a little and then loosen a little, back and forth. Sometimes that can get the threads to start moving.
 
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littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
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ry the approach of TIGHTEN a little and then loosen a little, back and forth. Sometimes that can get the threads to start moving.
that's something I haven't tried yet, waiting on an adaptor for the bolt extractor set so will be going quiet until I've tried that
thanks everyone for your ideas
 

LXCam

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AZ
Any chance there’s enough room to grind the head off those extractors don’t work?
 

jayemm

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Dec 18, 2018
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up high down low
I'd really consider heat and maybe shock also because with a good grip alone on the bolt head the shank could break leaving seized threaded portion still in the caliper bracket. Then it's time to drill that portion out.
 

Callelle

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Feb 3, 2022
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Location
Depew NY
The only thing I've had consistent success with is twist sockets and welding a nut and washer to the stud. I started out with rocketsockets and have since moved to Snap On / Blue Point because Snappy will warranty them for wear.
 

Ohio Andy

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Jul 31, 2024
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Columbus, Ohio
Ignoring things such as RBRT type sockets, Vampliers (and similar), and locking pliers....

I am partial to this set because I like the price and variety.
gearwrench bolt biter 84784. 28 Piece 1/4" & 3/8" Drive Bolt Biter™ Impact Extraction Socket Set.

Much more expensive, I like the GripEdge extractors.

I will not bother with the specifics on what I like most about each set.
 
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littlebean

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Mar 7, 2018
Messages
757
just to update this - the set I was loaned worked a treat, bolt came out with minimal fuss.
ended up hammering on the 14mm extractor socket as the 15mm (correct size) extractor socket was still spinning.
next issue was to get the bolt out of the extractor socket, luckily we have some kit at work which sorted it.

anyhow, thanks to you all for chiming in with suggestions
 
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