paintballerr78

iTrader: (4)

I was removing my valve cover when I went to undo one of the bolts I went to loosen it and it snapped. It's now flush with the head how would I remove it

09CobaltSS1

If you're good at welding, carefully weld a small nut or bolt to the exposed end. If not, drill and easy out should do it. The vc bolts aren't torqued very tight so an easy out SHOULD work. Just be sure to use a center punch so the bit doesn't walk into the head.

The fact that one snapped off to begin with is sort of concerning though.

Grave

iTrader: (7)

This. 89 in. lb. isn't much at all.

I would just leave it be. The valve cover is a pretty solid piece and I doubt it would flex enough with one bolt missing to cause a leak.

If it broke because it was over tightened it will be hard to get out. If it broke for another reason and isn't super tight, an air scribe works great.

09CobaltSS1

That's why it concerns me.

paintballerr78

iTrader: (4)

I literally put the socket on it when to losen it and half the bolt came out it literally broke right where the vc meets the head. I don't have a drill or welder. What if I use jb weld or something but the bolt back together to get it out

chris88z24

bolt extractor, clean the threads with a tap. install new bolt.

cw383

iTrader: (6)

JB wont do it, save the money for a cheap drill at Harbor Freight lol. Bolt extractor it is. Sometimes a tiny pilot punch on the outermost area ( I realize its not a big stud to begin with ) you can tap it with a hammer counter clockwise and it will start to rotate. Just take your time, try the punch, or borrow a drill from work, easy outs are like 6 bucks. Good luck!

Omiotek

iTrader: (2)

Drill it out or as said you could try a few weld methods

The bolt was over tightened at one point or another and it fatigued and broke. Either that or whoever put it in last stripped it. Those bolts don't just break.

exninja

iTrader: (1)

My as well buy a drill. It will be useful forever. They're not that expensive, either.

Solaris99

FYI. When people say "drill it", they mean use a left hand drill bit, which is what you'll get when you buy a screw extractor or "EZ out". These bits are not commonly found outside of extractor sets or specific left hand bit sets. The difference is that these drill in when rotated counter clockwise, so that while you drill you twist the bolt in the correct direction.

09CobaltSS1

^^ You should still drill a good 1/4" down into the bolt shank if using an easyout. This will allow the easyout bit to bite much harder into the shank, making a much more likely hood of a good extraction.

95Z28

These bolts should be very easy to coax out with the extractors. The smallest ones will give you plenty of space to keep the bit away from damaging the threads.

If it had a little meat on the top of it, I'd even consider using a dremel to slot the top of the break, and use a slotted screwdriver. As mentioned the torque on these bolts are pretty low.

blrt

Here is another option you can try. Use a small centre punch and tap out the broken piece by position your punch to the outer edge of the bolt. Be careful not to damage the tread. Good luck.

tomj77

iTrader: (2)

don't screw around welding or drilling, just buy a bolt extractor, u drill into the bolt a little and use the reverse thread extractor to bring it out. if the welding fails ur screwed cause then u have to drill through weld as well. u don't want to strip the thread in the head either, aluminum strips very easy. im guessing u tried to tighten the bolt by accident instead of losen it cause no way aluminum should rust the bolt stuck or anything, and it will strip before u can make it tight enough to not be able to get it out or break it.