Removing stripped tensioner bolt

[Eddy_444]

Hello all,

I’m struggling to get this nut off the bolt which holds the pulley tensioner in place.



I’ve tried the chisel and hammer method, but there’s very little space to hit at an angle. I’ve got a brand new tensioner and belt, so i’m not too fussed about salvaging anything.

Any thoughts?

[CoolHands]

You might end up needing to take the engine out. Steel yourself!

[Eddy_444]

I thinks it’s the A/C belt tensioner.

Is my only option to have this cut off?

[ReverendCounter]

Cut the belt off with a dremel type tool, cut the pulley off to get access to the bolt. Use a good quality pair of long plumbing pliers on the shaft of the bolt, maybe file some flats in, turn it while someone else is on the socket end with a wrench, turning that.

Put loads of heat into the block for a good few minutes then freeze the bolt with some spray, like a big tin of aerosol brake cleaner.

Hire a 90deg impact driver to get on the end of the bolt?

Explain the issue to a mobile mechanic, see if they'll come out and sort it instead.

Edited by ReverendCounter on Sunday 18th September 17:27

[GreenV8S]

Seems like you have decent access to get a socket or ring spanner onto it, and a nut splitter if you get fed up with rounding the nut over, or a dremel to slot it followed by a chissel. It's easier said than done, but that does look reasonably accessible.

[Captain Answer]

Either hammer on a socket or if it is a nut just get a nut splitter on it (or a cold chisel and lump hammer)

[wild rover]

Stilsons?

[wild rover]

Stilsons?

[SystemOfAFrown]

Eddy_444 said:

I’ve got a brand new tensioner and belt, so i’m not too fussed about salvaging anything.

Hope it comes with a new bolt!

Since there's plenty of bolt head remaining a big pair of vice grips would be my go to, and wind them up until it needs both hands to clamp them shut. However if it's that tight be wary about shearing the bolt off in the block as it could be seized. If it starts to turn but feels "mushy" like it's not undoing properly stop at once. In that case I'd angle grind the head off, remove the tensioner and apply lots of heat to the area that the bolt is threaded into and plenty of hammer action on the end of the bolt to break the corrosion bond.

[donkmeister]

wild rover said:

Stilsons?

Such a good idea it had to be said twice

Vote for Stilsons here, I've used them on stubborn rounded fasteners and generally the fastener will break before the teeth lose grip.

It's no coincidence that stud extractors are essentially a circular Stilson...

[chrisch77]

I'd cut the belt off and then attempt to apply heat to the nut, then grip it with molegrips or similar to try to move it. Best way of putting in localised heat would be to get the MIG gun out....