Mangled Bolt Head Extraction

[djkeev]

Working on a old Toyota (95) pickup 4x4 putting in a clutch (if you've got the money pay somebody to do it! Horrible Job!!!!)
Anyway, others were here before I and broke off bolts and mangled heads. One in particular was badly mashed and mis-shapen, couldn't drive on a smaller socket, the edges were too gone to file to a smaller size and being it was exceptionally tight and the sides being angled slightly, vise grips slipped tight off! Grrrrrrrrr!

Then I remembered, I had picked up this set of extractors awhile back, hmmmmmm....

Found the "correct" size, drove it onto the mangled head with a BFH until it seated against the shoulder, slipped on an impact socket and carefully, slowly backed it out with my 1/2" impact....... SWEET! They just paid for themselves big time!

These are like a giant external easy outs. You don't need them often, but when you need them, there is no substitute!

You can see in the photos how the extractor dug into the bolt head and firmly gripped it.

Dave

 

[soob]

Good for you. I had a rounded off 8mm bolt here recently. Tough spot to reach. Extractor socket wouldn't grab it. Broke my easy out. Ended up slotting the head all the way through with a dremel, breaking it in half with a screwdriver trying to turn it, then cutting the other half in half, giving it shape with the dremel and finally turning it with a wrench.

Lot of fun that was.

 

[charged355]

I bought a set of those after I borrowed my co-workers. They work GREAT when you need them!

 

[BMS]

Yep, a set of those were the only way I got the 40 year old caliper bolts loosened on a car of mine.

 

[djkeev]

I like picking up handy looking tools even when not needed! Silly me!

I had picked these up about 6 months ago, haven't yet used them PTL! But they are the same item only smaller with a hex drive on them.
They range in sizes from 3/16" to 1/2".
I do anticipate the day I'll be really glad that I have these in my box!

Dave

 

[wheats71]

I use them on a weekly basis. Lifesavers

 

[Murphy4570]

I have a set of those, Snappy calls them twist sockets I believe. They will save your bacon time and time again. NOT cheap, however.

 

[srmofo]

Ive got twist sockets from 24mmish down to 8mm. They save so much time....although for some reason customers blow me **** when I charge to fix something someone else broke...THey just dont get how much these things cost

 

[bad_idea]

I do a little shade tree mechanic work in my spare time. A friend of mine bought me a set when fixing his car I needed one. When doing work for friends I usually don't charge much but insist they buy any special tools I may need to do the work. I have gotten a few good tools from that deal. It still works out for them of course, due to the cost of a quality garage to do the work vs. the cost of the tool I may need.

Very handy tool when dealing with fubar-ed bolts.

 

[metalhead212121]

I have a set of those, Snappy calls them twist sockets I believe. They will save your bacon time and time again. NOT cheap, however.

yes.. snap on calls them twist sockets. I was doing exhaust work on one of my cars and the nuts broke off both exhaust studs. First thing I said when I broke the first one was "ill be more careful" with the second. Snapped the second bolt! I was able to hammer on a twist socket on both studs and pull both studs out. I think snap on sells a tool for installing/removing studs but I can't afford that.. Last time I checked they wanted a lot of $$$$...

 

[fourjeepin]

Welding a new nut to the damaged one usually works for me. The new nut gives you good threads and the heat from the welder helps break loose the stuck bolt/stud. The first time I tried this it was on an exhaust manifold. There was only a mm or two of the stud. No way a pair of vise grips would hold it. Welded a nut on and it came right out.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Working on a old Toyota (95) pickup 4x4 putting in a clutch (if you've got the money pay somebody to do it! Horrible Job!!!!)
Anyway, others were here before I and broke off bolts and mangled heads. One in particular was badly mashed and mis-shapen, couldn't drive on a smaller socket, the edges were too gone to file to a smaller size and being it was exceptionally tight and the sides being angled slightly, vise grips slipped tight off! Grrrrrrrrr!

Then I remembered, I had picked up this set of extractors awhile back, hmmmmmm....

Found the "correct" size, drove it onto the mangled head with a BFH until it seated against the shoulder, slipped on an impact socket and carefully, slowly backed it out with my 1/2" impact....... SWEET! They just paid for themselves big time!

These are like a giant external easy outs. You don't need them often, but when you need them, there is no substitute!

You can see in the photos how the extractor dug into the bolt head and firmly gripped it.

Dave

are those snap on or another brand?

chris

 

[djkeev]

I've got a mix of Craftsman and Irwin, they all look the same, probably out of the same factory.

Dave

 

[garfunkle24]

I've got a mix of Craftsman and Irwin, they all look the same, probably out of the same factory.

Dave

Mine are Turbosockets who are the originator of this type of socket (originally for removing locking wheel nuts). They are USA made. I believe there is also a Taiwan OEM, but I really don't know whom makes whos. I believe the SK ones are made by Turbosocket.

 

[Mike Honcho]

thanks guys, been looking into getting some



chris

 

[shoturtle]

Those work great for mangle nut head, they also work on stud, of broke off bolt heads. Just hammer them down on the stud and crack out the stud.

 

[rocklobster]

Yeah I have a set too, and oddly enough I bought them for replacing the clutch in my 89 Toyota 4x4 pickup. I had to use them to remove the exhaust down pipe and help with removing the cross member bolts.

They work good but most of the time I use the weld on bolt method though.

 

[House Sparrow]

These things kick ***! I have numerous sets of them- small 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive and two special sets for removing trashed wheel nuts. These also make good stud removers, as long as you're not re-using that particular stud.

I do NOT miss the days before I had these sockets. Extraction of a bad bolt went something like this...
1- Hammer on an impact socket. Strip bolt worse.
2- Hammer on another impact socket. Strip bolt even worse.
3- Hammer on another impact socket. Catch your breath, say a few curse words. Finally, it comes out.
4- Damn, I need that socket again for the other stripped bolt. Previous bolt is stuck in the socket so tight, it will not come out. Nice.
5- With a hammer and punch, waste 20 minutes and create a nice blood blister trying to bash the rusted POS bolt out of the socket. By this time, you are inventing new curse words. Sweet.
6- Get the joy of working two hours longer than you had planned to get everything else done for the day, in a pissed-off mood. Awesome!

A big thanks to whoever invented these

 

[larry4406]

Slick - never seen those before. Now I have to spend more money.

 

[Worsedog]

Ive got twist sockets from 24mmish down to 8mm. They save so much time....although for some reason customers blow me **** when I charge to fix something someone else broke...THey just dont get how much these things cost

Ain't that the TRUTH. It's been three other places before yours and they have paid those jacklegs big bucks to make it worse. Then you actually fix it and they want it for next to nothing.

 

[str8axle55]

I work on rusty Toyota`s daily, these sockets are awesome. I got mine from S/O, and already had to warr dull one`s.