Need advice - broken bolt
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Southern Ohio
Need advice - broken bolt
The front wire form on my saddlebag mount broke, so I was unbolting the wire form bracket whan the damn head broke off the bolt. This is the bolt that threads back into the frame; on top of that it looks like it's in there with red loctite. What's the best way to drill it out or is there someother method. It's broken off flush with the frame.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Murfreesboro, TN
That's a bad situation you've got there Unc. As t. related, your best chance is an e-z out and heat. Drill the hole first with the proper size drill to fit the new properly sized e-z out, then heat it as hot as you canwithout ruining anything. Good luck
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 3
From: Victoria, Australia
After DISCONNECTING the battery place a nut over the broken shank and in 2 places spot weld the i.d. of the nut to the bolt shank using a wire feed welder. It will then back out easily.
If you snap off the EZ out you may need to do this anyway. A machine shop nearby could do this for you form small $$$.
I have done this job myself and it works very well.
If you snap off the EZ out you may need to do this anyway. A machine shop nearby could do this for you form small $$$.
I have done this job myself and it works very well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,974
Likes: 6,071
From: Florida
Shouldn't be in there with Loctite. That's the bolt that you're supposed to remove when you take the strap off to get the seat off. In the future, you can replace the wire form easily with the bracket still attatched.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 2
From: East Tennessee
Center punch the top of the bolt and drill as far down into the bolt as you can or all the way through it would be even better. The round spiral ez outs suck when you need strength so use a square tapered ez out and drive the one that fits best as far into the hole in the center of the bolt. Put a wrench on the ez out and give it a quick jerk to break away the loctite then back the bolt out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 3
From: NYC
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,850
Likes: 220
From: Sacramento, CA.
I would center punch the bolt. Drill the bolt with a smaller drill, then step up to the proper size for the easy out. Go very slowly with the easy out, you may brake it & then you have a REAL PROBLEM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 4
From: Central IL
The weld trick works the best as the heat from the welding will free up the Loctite. If you are going to drill it out and use a easy out, get a left hand drill bit that is almost as big as the i.d. of the bolt. A lot of the time the bolt will back out while drilling it out. If you happen to get into the threads of the hole, use a thread repair tap and you should be good to go.
Oh, and kick whoever used red Loctite on that 1/4-20 bolt in the seeds!!!
Oh, and kick whoever used red Loctite on that 1/4-20 bolt in the seeds!!!
Last edited by dirtracin23; Aug 5, 2011 at 01:09 AM.
