Can't get rounded spline bolt out
Discussion
Hello All
Whilst attempting to do an oil change on my Audi A6, I failed at the first hurdle (ok the second - I got it on the ramps ok). The cover takes no less than three types of bolt head and I was trying to get a spline M10 bolt off. I've done it before and maybe I did it too tight or something but my nearly new spline set couldn't get a purchase on this one bolt.
So to cut a long story short I first tried cutting a slot with my dremel but because its in a recess I could only get the slot cut at a bit of an angle. In the end I managed to get the slot right along the width of the head about twice as long as my longest screwdriver or driver bit. I did get my impact driver to engage at full throttle without slipping but it didn't turn and I think just opened up the slot a bit. I think it failed because the slot wasn't perpendicular to the head as it should be so I was coming in at an angle with my driver.
Next I tried an old set of extractor bits (left hand threaded designed to take bolts out). I've used the kit ok before but it was the cheapest at the time and I'm guilty of leaving the bits just lying around outside the case - they certainly don't feel sharp. Also it only had 3 sizes and one was missing so I was probably using the wrong size. Maybe I should get a newer kit as they don't seem expensive ?
So I turned to just "drilling it out". Well I've got a nearly new set of hss bits and cutting fluid but it just seems to take ages to get anywhere. As you can probably tell I've got very little experience with metalwork. Even a tiny bit didn't seem to drill in much. I was using slow speed until I got pi$$ed off and quite a lot of pressure as I had my elbow on the ground to push against.
How do I get the fker out ?
Whilst attempting to do an oil change on my Audi A6, I failed at the first hurdle (ok the second - I got it on the ramps ok). The cover takes no less than three types of bolt head and I was trying to get a spline M10 bolt off. I've done it before and maybe I did it too tight or something but my nearly new spline set couldn't get a purchase on this one bolt.
So to cut a long story short I first tried cutting a slot with my dremel but because its in a recess I could only get the slot cut at a bit of an angle. In the end I managed to get the slot right along the width of the head about twice as long as my longest screwdriver or driver bit. I did get my impact driver to engage at full throttle without slipping but it didn't turn and I think just opened up the slot a bit. I think it failed because the slot wasn't perpendicular to the head as it should be so I was coming in at an angle with my driver.
Next I tried an old set of extractor bits (left hand threaded designed to take bolts out). I've used the kit ok before but it was the cheapest at the time and I'm guilty of leaving the bits just lying around outside the case - they certainly don't feel sharp. Also it only had 3 sizes and one was missing so I was probably using the wrong size. Maybe I should get a newer kit as they don't seem expensive ?
So I turned to just "drilling it out". Well I've got a nearly new set of hss bits and cutting fluid but it just seems to take ages to get anywhere. As you can probably tell I've got very little experience with metalwork. Even a tiny bit didn't seem to drill in much. I was using slow speed until I got pi$$ed off and quite a lot of pressure as I had my elbow on the ground to push against.
How do I get the fker out ?
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