Wouldn't the head fall out still leaving the threads where you could never get a pair of vise grips on? Sorry, didn't see you had a new shifter. I agree with many, it looks like you may be using the wrong or bad allen wrench. Or you could saw between slots or get an EZ Out. I still stand by my post re oil-plug.

 

I too do this often.....^

 

Another alternative, if you have access to a welder, would be to just do a little tack weld (MIG or TIG) to an allen wrench in the stripped head, then use an adjustable wrench on the shaft of the allen wrench down close to the bolt head (for leverage).

 

If the head of the bolt comes off you still have options. If the bolt diameter is big enough you can drill into it and then use an ez out. If it's too small or that doesn't work you can use a bit just a tad smaller than the bolt and a real steady hand. As long as you use the right size bit the threads will clean out easily. I have done this a bunch of times on old bikes. In fact I have a couple of bolts in an old boat I will be using this technique on later today.

 

It's pretty much a last resort but it works. If that fails your only other option is to drill out and retap.
+1 on the oil plug comment. I have had to drill and retap one that a someone overtightened and stripped.

 

I'm not sure if they overtighten or crossthread because of the location between the shocks making it so difficult. Mine was both, lol, overtightened and crossthreaded using a ton of locktite to boot. The trick is to hand tighten everything then torque it down.

 

Wow, 3 pages of posts on how to remove a stripped bolt. The OP probably had it all fixed and riding before page 1 finished...

I was waiting for someone to tell him to buy a new bike...

Yeah, it's a slow day for me too today...

Ride safe fellas...


Mike
NY

 

Tighten a small hose clamp on that bolt, then you can tap hard on the screw of the hose clamp and it will loosen up.

 

Think this made the top of the " what did I just read list " go right ahead and try that on a 1/4 or 5/16 allen head and come tell us how that worked.

 

If our replacing the shifter anyway just drill the bolt out. It will self-center if you use a bit that just fits in th allen hole. Buy good bits like DeWalt or Irwin, not the cheap crap, and you'll be done in 30 seconds.