steering wheel screws

[griffter]

I tried to remove the steering wheel from the boss yesterday by removing the 6 allen head counter-sunk screws. I've been dreading the job and putting it off for ages because I knew what would happen, and it did. Someone has previously over-tightened them and I got one - yes ONE out. The allen bit slipped on all remaining 5. I tried tapping one round with a hammer and multi-function tool (screwdriver) but it just chipped a nice curling burr out of the screw head.

Do I have to resort to welding nuts to the screw heads to get a purchase on them and remove them (my normal trick) or has anyone got a better idea?

[dnb]

Drill the heads off? The threaded part ought to wind out by hand then as the tension will be removed. I used this trick when I dismantled the crank pulley on my Griff engine

Then replace them with some nice stainless CSK machine screws...

[andy43]

Drilling out the heads does work very well on the countersunk heads - you can then get molegrips on what's left (a good 5mm + of thread length) once the wheel is off.

[Paul V]

Could try banging a slightly oversize allen key head into it then use a impact driver if you have one.

[crackedfinger]

Quite easy to fix if you have a dremel - just 'cut' a slot for a scresdriver. Cut a deep slot and then tap the screwdrover in hard then it should free up OK. Best cover the surrounding with ducvk tape incase of the usual 'slip' and 'dam' situation that you get in with dremels.

[Green Meanie]

Try a left-handed drill (no im not having a laugh) the drill bit is left handed ,so you put in your drill and select reverse and drill out the screws.You usually drill about halfway through and because the drill is left handed it screws out the offending broken screw.I have used these numerous times there brilliant.You will have to go to a engineers merchants to get one(K Supplies etc).Failing that drill normally and use a stud extractor.

[griffter]

Thanks all.

I've ordered a set of LH drill bits for screw extraction off ebay. At £1.99 the set I thought that's a good place to start!
If they don't work, I'll try the dremel.
If that fails, I'll drill the heads off.

I figure the above is in order of ascending destructiveness, so I keep my options as open as possible at each stage.

[stesrg]

If their are nuts on the back gring them off
Ste.