I've "cracked" the bolts loose to relieve pressure prior to completely removing the heads. There are 3 bolts that will not budge. I've tried to carefully turn them with a 6-point socket, box end ratchet, and even slight tapping with a hammer to hopefully release the bolts.

The heads of the bolts are not completely stripped and there is some meat left on them. Has anyone else encountered this? What is a good technique to get them out? As I said, there is a bit of meat left on the heads.

 

Update - Impact gun set on "4" max did not work. The bolt lost a bit more meat and the socket is starting to round out. I've never seen one on this tight before. This is the first time these have been removed from factory (original owner).

Any ideas?

 

You are digging a deep hole for yourself.My first suggestion is to go to Sears and by a set of 'bolt outs'or bolt extractors. ( I think thats what they are called)Looks like a socket but the inside is made to grip the bolt.You hammer the CORRECT size on.If that doesnt work you may have to cut the head of the bolt off,remove the cylinder head and use vise grip or a pipe wrench on it...good luck.

 

Are you sure that wasn't your original problem? Are you sure you are using the correct size? Is it a quality made socket by the likes of Snap-On or Craftsman? You can also try to hammer on a smaller sized socket on the head of the bolt, but if that doesn't work then the bolt head must be cut off.

 

thats what i did to two of mine, i think i used a slightly smaller metric socket, also an impact socket generally has a slightly tighter fit and is almost always a better option

 

I picked up a set of Bolt Grips by Irwin... sockets with a spiral cut in the center to bit into the rounded head. It isn't completely round... yet.
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/...rwinProd100517



SS RRR - It was a brand new socket from Sears. I set the impact gun to max 4 and it was starting to round out the socket on the inside.

I've never seen them on this tight before.

I just picked up a Vanadium Chrome socket so it should be tougher. The first impact socket had a dull black coating, this one has a dull dark gray coating. I don't know if that means something.

 

Dangalla - so I guess I'm not the only one with stuck head bolts. Phew.

 

no, mine were a pain also

dont use an impact gun on them, use a slightly smaller socket with a breaker bar, or a pipe on the end of a ratchet

and dont use that bolt-out set unless you absolutly have too, once you put that thing on there there is no going back

 

If it was just a regular socket and not an impact socket to try to remove a stubborn bolt odds are it'll be bad news.

 

SS RRR - I'm not sure exactly. Usually, the dull finish means impact while the polished finish is for non-impact appplications. The walls are pretty thick so the dull black finish seemed like an impact socket. The Vanadium Chrome dull dark gray finish has a thicker wall so I'll try this next.

 

Finally, the dull dark gray impact socket and an impact gun worked. There was just enough meat on the bolt head to bite. I turned it 1/2 rotation then moved on to the rest of the bolts (by hand) to relieve tension. I made 4 cautious passes before removing the bolts.

I don't recommend an impact gun but in this case I was running out of options. I did my best to relieve stress so I don't warp the heads using 4 passes.

I've got a quality machinist's straight edge and will clean up the heads tomorrow, then I'll check for warpage.

Thanks for the help gents. On to more destruction...

 

I always use a 6 point socket, extra leverage as needed and careful attention to keeping the socket engaged and square. IMO, impact guns can be an invitation to rounded heads.

 

Not sure I understand what you are relieving pressure from? If anything you are creating more pressure on those bolts that have not been loosened yet.

 

I used a six point socket combined with ratchet. I also put the end of my floor jack handle on the end of ratchet for leverage. My dads channelock brand socket cracked on me, and I thought I had indeed rounded a bolt. It was not that luckily,and I grabbed my craftsman socket and no problems.

It goes to show you cheap tools suck.

 

A nice 1/2" drive, 15" socket wrench works wonders.