Removing broken :easy out

[gunther9]

Told myself I wasn't going to break it this time but I did. How to remove the broken piece of hardened bit? Finally hit upon the idea of cutting a circle around it with a diamond tipped hole saw with just large enough ID to go around the broken piece. You see it in the pictures, the broken bit is inside the plug in the hole saw access area in the pics. Worked great. Really, you just have to go deep enough to get past the bit then tap the broken piece sideways with a punch and pick it out with needle nose or use a strong magnet. Hole saw cost me 14.00 at Lowes, you could use carbide but I went with the diamond just in case I got into the hardened easy out while drilling around it.


 

[Greg1959]

Thanks for the info! I've been looking for some kind of idea to remove a broken easyout. Mine is on the rear axle and I don't really want to torch it out due the oil may catch fire.
 

[CTucker]

I broke a 3/8 bolt of in an aluminum alternator once. Took it to the Blacksmith welding shop and the guy tried an easy-out and broke it right off. He said "OK" and grabbed a 3/8 nut, laid it over the broken bolt with easy-out in it and proceeded to weld the nut to the bolt. I couldn't believe he reached down thru the nut to strike an arc. He laid the stinger down, picked up a wrench and backed the bolt out of the hole.
 

[Spook]

I've used a little die grinder to gring them out.
 

[gunther9]

I tried to weld a nut to this bolt but wasn't good enough welder to do it. It was on the tractor so I couldn't transport it anywhere very easily.
 

[ShadetreeRet]

Thanks for the tip, that is a good one! I will definitely keep that in mind!
 

[Tom from Buckeye Lake]

I've broken several, shouldn't they be called easybrake?
 

[Bret4207]

I've given up on easy outs. If I can drill it, it gets drilled with a LEFT HAND drill bit and usually backs right out. If I can't, then I weld a nut to it. If I can't do that, I get a torch.
 

[showcrop]

[fixerupper]

I've never thought of that. Thanks for the tip. Jim
 

[Mike M]

Great idea. I didn't even know you could get hole saws like that ? And even so the big box stores would of been the last place I thought would have them.

What section do they hide those in ? I might pick some up.
 

[Jim in MN]

If the bolt is broke off flush with the surface welding a nut on can be tricky. Lay a flat washer over the bolt and weld. Then weld a nut to the washer...makes it a lot easier to get good penetration on the broke off bolt and the washer shields the part.
 

[gunther9]

I found the diamond hole saws hanging on the wall in the tool section. They had sizes up to 1 inch if I remember correctly. I forgot to mention I used generous amounts of WD40 as a lubricant.

Jim in MN thanks for the tip on welding a washer on before a nut. I'll try that.