General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Buggered bolt extraction

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 02:37 PM
  #1  
GOGOBECK's Avatar
GOGOBECK
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
Default Buggered bolt extraction

‘01 Road King

Hayden M6 chain tensioner install

I noticed from the jump that one of the flat head screws, holding the rear adjustment bracket, was gonna be challenging. It doesn’t have well defined “ridges” in the screw head. If not for the other screw, I wouldn’t have known for certain that it’s a T40. I also learned the factory used red Loctite on these.

Before any attempt at removing, I sprayed it with PB Blaster and heated it with a propane torch.

I tapped a T40 socket into place, but it wouldn’t let me put enough torque on it to move the screw

I then drilled it and tried a # 3 screw extractor, better grip, but same problem… can’t get enough force on it to budge. I eventually snapped the bit.

I’m considering sacrificing a ball end Allen socket… welding it into/onto the screw. All I have is a arc welder, it’s a tight space and I’m a shitty welder to boot.

Any other ideas are appreciated





 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 03:22 PM
  #2  
Bluraven's Avatar
Bluraven
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,971
Likes: 901
From: Omaha
Default

My advice; at this point take it to a machine shop.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 03:37 PM
  #3  
sparkalot's Avatar
sparkalot
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 774
From: Under Alot of Trees
Default

I'm not familiar with that bracket but it look like there is an air gap between the (aluminium?) case and the threaded end of the bolt? If so, maybe place a small but thick piece of steel (1/8 better 3/16) there and drill through the bolt. The steel would protect the case from the drill bit. Curious to see how this resolves😃
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 03:46 PM
  #4  
Camarosx2's Avatar
Camarosx2
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 248
Likes: 187
From: Central mass
Default

Get a small sharp chisel and tap it at an angle, don't hit any harder then light taps and it should loosen pretty easily or cut a slot into it with a cutoff wheel. Then use an impact screwdriver to remove it. A final option is drilling the head just enough to pop it off and then use vice grips to unthread the remaining screw.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 04:17 PM
  #5  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,114
Likes: 51,403
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Had to backup a second, is the newer adjuster mounted different than the older style? The old ones that was a countersunk hole with a taper head bolt. That one looks like a machined flat spot for regular hardware and washer. My advice at this point depends on which that is, bee different on how to go about it for each.
 

Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Nov 6, 2022 at 04:20 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 05:06 PM
  #6  
GOGOBECK's Avatar
GOGOBECK
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by sparkalot;[url=tel:20915724
20915724[/url]]I'm not familiar with that bracket but it look like there is an air gap between the (aluminium?) case and the threaded end of the bolt? If so, maybe place a small but thick piece of steel (1/8 better 3/16) there and drill through the bolt. The steel would protect the case from the drill bit. Curious to see how this resolves😃
Its a tapped hole into the inner primary, I think.

Originally Posted by Camarosx2
Get a small sharp chisel and tap it at an angle, don't hit any harder then light taps and it should loosen pretty easily or cut a slot into it with a cutoff wheel. Then use an impact screwdriver to remove it. A final option is drilling the head just enough to pop it off and then use vice grips to unthread the remaining screw.
I like the cut a slot idea… I think I’ll try that next! Thanks

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker;[url=tel:20915782
20915782[/url]]Had to backup a second, is the newer adjuster mounted different than the older style? The old ones that was a countersunk hole with a taper head bolt. That one looks like a machined flat spot for regular hardware and washer. My advice at this point depends on which that is, bee different on how to go about it for each.
it’s a countersunk hole with a tapered flat head screw.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 05:24 PM
  #7  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,114
Likes: 51,403
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Originally Posted by GOGOBECK
Its a tapped hole into the inner primary, I think.



I like the cut a slot idea… I think I’ll try that next! Thanks



it’s a countersunk hole with a tapered flat head screw.
Ok we been there on this one, two options and you need a dremel tool. First would involve pulling the chain and clutch shell, using a a small cutter wheel and grind a deep groove down through the bolt head and use a hand impact driver to shock it out, don't worry about scoring or hurting the step ramp if you get into it a little they are durable.

Second is 1/8" carbide burr bits, get a couple and get busy boring the broken easy out to size, this one is a straight head in attempt like drilling so the shell & chain don't need to come out, best if does but you can wrap and cover everything to keep the grit out. The heat generated during this will kill any loctite and with a steady hand you can core that bolt completely out and not trash the threads in the primary. Helicoil can fix that if it does oversize on you,

Lastly throw that f**king Hayden as far as you can please, was a piece of **** 40 years ago they haven't magically gotten any better since.
 

Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Nov 6, 2022 at 08:10 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 05:38 PM
  #8  
Bluesrider.df's Avatar
Bluesrider.df
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,354
Likes: 1,967
From: PA
Default

I can't offer anything other than moral support, and this pic...been there a number of times.


 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 6, 2022 | 08:08 PM
  #9  
RK4ME's Avatar
RK4ME
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,242
Likes: 3,262
From: west Michigan
Default

I would take a sharp, maybe new, "*****" punch and punch it midway between the center hole and the outer edge. Once you have a good indentation, angle the punch slightly and continue tapping with a hammer in a counter clockwise direction.
This is usually my first step in broken bolt removal.
If you are using a torch to neutralize the LocTite, don't heat the bolt to cherry red because it will cool too quickly and become brittle.
 

Last edited by RK4ME; Nov 6, 2022 at 08:10 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2022 | 08:33 AM
  #10  
GOGOBECK's Avatar
GOGOBECK
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by TwiZted Biker;[url=tel:20915879
20915879[/url]]

Lastly throw that f**king Hayden as far as you can please, was a piece of **** 40 years ago they haven't magically gotten any better since.
hmmm, why don’t you like the Hayden? I put one in my ‘97 when new because finding neutral was difficult. 106k trouble free miles. I bought an ‘01 last November and finding neutral is impossible until I kill the engine. I have also had it slip into neutral when downshifting, almost dropped the bike once.

Originally Posted by RK4ME;[url=tel:20916168
20916168[/url]]I would take a sharp, maybe new, "*****" punch and punch it midway between the center hole and the outer edge. Once you have a good indentation, angle the punch slightly and continue tapping with a hammer in a counter clockwise direction.
This is usually my first step in broken bolt removal.
If you are using a torch to neutralize the LocTite, don't heat the bolt to cherry red because it will cool too quickly and become brittle.
I like this idea!

I can always button things back up with the stock adjuster
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:47 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE