I bought a lower belt guard the other day and it was a really easy install. The dealer recommended that I buy the chrome hardware for the upper belt guard. I figured what's another couple bucks so I bought it. Turns out, the new chrome bolts are torx, but the existing bolts (front and back) holding the upper guard are hex. The one closest to the rear (with the nut) was real easy..came right out. Well..the front one was a real bi*ch...and needless to say, I stripped the bolt. I'm not sure what I did wrong...it wasn't like I was using a little allen key...I was using a socket and it was definitely the proper size. Any suggestions on how to remove a stripped hex bolt? Is drilling the only way out??? If so, do I need a special drill bit? Thanks very much!

Todd

 

Did you booger the head or the threads? If the head, try a vise-grip; if the threads, you might be stuck drilling it out. It's probably a Grade 5 (3 lines on the head), so you can use a regular drill bit, but use plenty of coolant to keep from burning it.

 

last time i stripped a hex head i used a vise grip like pocoj said and it took a little time but came out. just make sure that you put duct tape on the vise grip so that you do not scratch anything while your turning it seeing how you will have to put the vise grip right up to the bike.

 

Sears have some new toys. They look like a socket but have reverse cam channels that will grab the head of a stripped hex bolt and bite down on it.

Good Luck

 

Weld a nut on to the top of the rounded hex head.