Impact Screwdriver and Alen Head Bolts

[duwem]

Ever have problems removing Alen head bolts/screws where the wrench spins in the Alen and rounds off. I was fighting with this and got out the impact driver which has a square drive like a ratchet and used the Alen sockets and was able to get the bolts loose as the impact pushes the wrench into the hex so it has less of a chance of rising up and spinning/stripping.

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-impact-driver/p-00947641000P

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-evolv-7-pc-hex-bit-socket-set/p-00910058000P

(I have the regular ones not the evolv ones)

Also may need adaptor for 1/2 to 3/8" drive. I have a set of impact wrench adapters I use.

If the Alen bolt is stripped out real bad I have hammered a torx bit in and used the impact driver with luck.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have also successfully hammered a metric into a standard Allen hex when the original hex was damaged in able to remove the bolt.

 

[gungatim]

good tip!
there are also spline shaped e-z outs that work decent when pounded into a socket head cap screw....I love my hand impact. have 3, 2 are older US made versions. always amazes me how many people don't know the adapter comes off and has a 3/8" drive for using sockets and think it's just for screwdriver bits! btw, best thing you can do is buy some good bits for those things. the ones they usually come with are super soft.

 

[APEowner]

When I worked on motorcycles the impact driver may have been my most used tool.

 

[SteveH-CO]

I have welded on a hex bolt to the face of the wasted allen-head, and removed the screw or plug that way. Not elegant, but it works.

I loathe allen-head stuff, because by the time I get to it, it's either rusted or has been boogered by a previous owner.

 

[lazer50]

They are a pain!the thing to realize with hex bit fasteners is the tool has to fit tight and be quality.alot of fellas will use sae in metric and vice versa.and i dont mean to get a rounded one out sometimes u have to.i mean sometimes guys use the wrong version on new fasteners and ruin them.i have an impact tool also and its money well spent.

 

[gasgas17]

I have removed stripped Alen head screws with a Torx pounded into the head. Works great especially with softer metals like aluminum. Good quality tools will go a long way to making those Alen heads last.

 

[claymont]

6 or 8 inch pipe wrench works most of the time on the smaller sizes if they're not countersunk.

 

[rharman]

That was my go-to tool in the 70's when I ate, slept, breathed, lived motorcycles.

Impact with a phillips or a 6mm allen. Still have it/them.

 

[no704]

Also great for getting a loctited fastener moving.

 

[no704]

I all was make sure the twist is set to loosen. Can't seem to understand why one would ever want to tighten with one.

 

[Worsedog]

I all was make sure the twist is set to loosen. Can't seem to understand why one would ever want to tighten with one.

Left hand threads.

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

I had a Philips screw that I couldn't for the life of get out. I tryed a impact screw driver still wanted to raise up and twist out I ended up removing it with all my body wait on a Milwaukee 1/4 drive impact.

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