Removing broken bolts

[Anonymous-0]

I have seen a lot of different ways to remove broken bolts on this sight, most of them in castiron heads, or blocks. Today I used a cutting torch to remove four broken bolts on a Ford v8 head used to attach the exhaust manifold. This really works good. The cast iron is not cut at all, just the iron bolt is removed. Then run a tap through the hole. These bolts were not in bling holes, which made it a good clean cut. Blind holes will be a little harder, as the slag will come back at the torch head. You want to get in and out as quick as possible, to keep from heating too much. Does any one else use a cutting torch for this? Wroks for me. Stan

 

[Anonymous-0]

A scant few times when I trusted myself and the part was not that critical if it got damaged, you're right though, the other day I was removing some old bolts from my disc harrow and I was actually able to burn off the nut without harming the bolt, one of those jobs where you can experiment and not worry, was just cutting off the bolt anyway, but realized with a good eye and the right tip and setting, you can do things like this without screwing up the surrounding metal, I've seen this mentioned many times here, just never really tried it, the nut started to melt and I pulled the heat off it just to see if the bolt was unscathed and it was. I'd imagine it still requires one to have good skills with the torch, the right tip for the job, and having some experience or practice before tackling the part, still easy enough to screw up just the same.

 

[Walt Davies]

I have used a torch to remove many a nut from a bolt but I'm a little to scared to try it on removing a stud from a cast head. You were lucky and also must have a good steady hand to do what you did. I wouldn't make a practice of it though because sooner or later the torch will go off course and cut the head a little to deep to save it.
Nice to know that you were successful though.
Walt

 

[Anonymous-0]

You don't need a steady hand,The cast iron will not be cut with the flame, unless you keep the flame in one are for a long time. If I had a broken off stud in a block I would probably try the drill first and use the torch for final clean up. Try to cut cast iron sometime, it doesn't cut. Stan

 

[rrlund]

I've tried it with limited success. But let me tell you something that my son learned at auto deisel college. For removing pipe plugs from castings,blocks,transmissions,rear ends etc...WAX. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't done it myself. Just heat the area,press a candle of other block of wax against it. The heat will pull the wax into the threads and lubricate them. I had a plug in a rearend housing that I'd tried everything with,practically had it ruined with a chisel. He told me to heat it again while he went in the house and got a candle. He pushed it up against it then said let it cool a little. I did,then took a chisel and barely tapped it. It spun right around and I turned it out with my fingers. Try it,it works.