Stripped bolt please help
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 74
From: Los Angeles
Take a hacksaw blade through the slot & saw through the bolt... it'll come right off.
__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click HERE For all Twin Cams and Evo Big Twins & Sportsters
__________________________________________________ ____
For ROCKOUT information & purchasing please click HERE For all Twin Cams and Evo Big Twins & Sportsters
Last edited by rquest; Jul 31, 2019 at 02:46 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 40
Likes: 63
From: Northeastern Illinois
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).
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 168
Likes: 86
From: Rochester, NY
Originally Posted by rquest
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.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 168
Likes: 86
From: Rochester, NY
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.
+1 on the oil plug comment. I have had to drill and retap one that a someone overtightened and stripped.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 74
From: Los Angeles
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.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 12
From: Westchester, NY
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
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
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 312
Likes: 25
From: Nevada
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.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,114
Likes: 51,401
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 63
Likes: 16
From: Hastings MN
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.