stripped drain plug bolt head

While changing my oil recently, I managed to strip the the bolt head on the drain plug. The edges on the bolt were already slightly worn. That situation, combined with the bolt being over-torqued (not my doing) and using a 12-point socket was a recipe for disaster. After it was too stripped to use any sort of wrench, I used a vice grip on it, which stripped it even more.

Fortunately, I found out that Sears makes handy tools called "Bolt-Out," which are designed for removing rounded-off or rusted bolts. I picked up a set of these things, and it worked like a charm. Disaster averted, drain plug replaced, and properly torqued.

Lessons learned:

  1. Beware of over-torqued drain plugs

  1. Use 6-point sockets whenever possible

  2. The Sears bolt remover sockets are really handy. I believe Irwin makes a similar product.

(No, I do not work for Sears or Irwin)

John

Reply to
John B
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hoo yeah.

Put the 12 point sockets somewhere you won't look. There's no reason for them to exist.

I'm impressed... is this like an Easy out ?

Reply to
Bob

You could have also used the Flank Drive SnapOn sockets - and no I don't work for SnapOn. The local dealer lent me a set and challenged me to compare it to my Craftsman sockets. I was bolting floor supports at the time, so I put the sockets to the tests. I put a Craftsman socket on the bolt and the SnapOn on the nut and proceeded to apply torque. The Craftsman sockets always slipped. I put the SnapOn socket on the rounded bolt and it did not slip. I believe the patent for Flank Drive has expired and you can buy Craftsman tools with flank drive now.

Reply to
ma_twain

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