Replacing starter clutch on an 09 Streetglide , back bolt rounded out (hardest to get at ) . Tried liquid wrench /tapping it , can't get on it with a pliers , outside of bolt is round , center takes a 1/4 hex . Ideas ?

 

Absolutely. First, I doubt that penetrating fluid is gonna solve your problem. Finesse and/or brute force is likely gonna be your answer.


One way is to cut a slot in the head of the bolt, and use a large, wide bladed screwdriver to get that puppy outta there. You can use a Dremel tool with a cut-off blade for this...IF you have enough room to maneuver in there. Likely you won't...so you can consider using the flexible head that you can get for your Dremel, might give you the ability to get that done. Once you've cut your slot, just lay the blade of the screwdriver in there and twist. You might have to use a snipe on the shaft of the tool, or maybe a 3/8" screwdriver socket. An impact tool...hand, air, or electric...might work excellently for this...or will cause you more problems. Quien sabe?


Another method would be to drill a hole into the bolt head, and drive an EZ Out in there and back it out...the risk is that you might over-torque that puppy, and the EZ Out will snap out.


Or, you could get a Torx socket, slightly larger than the hex hole, drive that sucker in there like you meant it, and back that bolt outta there. Again, an impact tool, especially a hand impact, might work very well.


The last method is another time honored way...get you a twelve point socket, drive it OVER the head, and back the bolt out.


The last two methods are destructive to the tool, and might require that if you pull one of them out of your set, you'll have to replace it. Oh well. There but for the grace of God go I...and my tools. It happens.


Now, if you're going 'I don't have any of them tools and I don't want to spend money on things I'll never use again, and there's no guarantee any of them will work...pony up some cash and trot that thing down to your local shop. They'll be successful, guaranteed. Trust me in this.

 

Just had the same problem on a friends low rider on the easier to get at bolt. Tried jamming the torque into the center to no avail. Ended getting a chisel to on side of a flat and indenting it enough that the hex socket didn't slip. Also found that gorilla tape is thick enough to cover the chrome with to keep from ruining it while banging around with a hammer and chisel.

 

As above member mentioned ,,,, Over sized torx socket on an extention to get in there ..... Same thing has happened to me on a 2009 e/glide... And it was the mounting bolt on the left , which has the lest room for access ... worked like a charm ...

 

Thanks for the help ! I'll try the socket idea as I tried various torx /metic alllens etc. hoping one of them would grab it .

 

Veekness..........oldschool mechanic, thought we were all gone. I know we're a dying breed. You're a genius by many standards.

 

An Impact Driver with the right size bit such as this may work too.
That is what they are designed for.

 

​​​​​​​Yep! Learned at the hands of those who were even older school...and weren't politically correct or sensitive to my feelings! Which, of course you know where of I speak, no doubt an old school wrench your own self!

 

Yep, grew up in the back of Dad's shops in the late 60's and 70's. If I wanted to ride something, Dad made me fix it first. Worked on a lot of old machinery, learned the hard way, pushing it back to shop sucked. Valuable education that can't be taught today. Loved everyday of it though.......

 

Same way for me! You learned to sink or swim quickly...today's breed expects participation trophies for merely asking a question on the World Wide Web!