Stripped allen bolts

[cgolvin]

I'm willing to accept some responsibility for this but mainly I think it's poor quality metal (I won't shame the vendor here).

Irrespective, I've now got an irremovable front light because the GoPro mount bolt is stripped. Does anyone have a reliable approach to this problem? I've tried a visegrip but it's a fairly flush head so can't get leverage on it.

[Lewis Moon]

Easy out. A pic would help.

PS: it can be the Allen key too. A lot of companies round off the edges on the tip or they get rounded from use, and that gives you less depth of bite. I've found that if you use a belt sander to flatten out the tip (not the sides) it's less likely to pop out and round out the hole if you're a bit ham fisted.

[cgolvin]

Fingers crossed…

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7894/45689689495_0357382067_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2cBrATa)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7859/32729998208_78a3684df1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/RSeNaW)

[Gsinill]

I'm willing to accept some responsibility for this but mainly I think it's poor quality metal (I won't shame the vendor here).

Irrespective, I've now got an irremovable front light because the GoPro mount bolt is stripped. Does anyone have a reliable approach to this problem? I've tried a visegrip but it's a fairly flush head so can't get leverage on it.

If you search for "Allen bolt extractor set" on Amazon, you'll get a list of gizmos.
I'd give this one a try:
https://www.amazon.com/EssentialTools-Extractor-Stripped-Hardness-63-65hrc/dp/B07GZ17QD9

[zmudshark]

I'd try tapping in a torx wrench, and see if you can get bite. Hit it with Kroil or PB Blaster and let it penetrate a bit first.

[93svt96]

Could carefully drill the head off with a carbide drill , done it many times. Get a drill slightly larger than the allen and go til the head pops off. Then you might have to go with a smaller drill with an EZ out to get the remaining thread out.

[pdonk]

If you can get a hacksaw blade in, cut a notch for a flat screw driver.

[pdmtong]

Call GP customer service. Ask them to replace the whole mount, hacksaw off the pieces you will keep, send them the rest. Now their engineers can see the problem first hand and take steps to improving that issue.

[hokoman]

Did you accidentally bend the outer tab in because you didn't have a tab in between? That's probably why it wouldn't back out. Maybe cut the last tab off and the allen bolt will probably back out without much effort.

[93svt96]

Looks like it isnt assembled right. Needs to be moved over one tab to the right , if that makes sense.

[Fishman]

Use a Dremel tool to cut a grove that will fit a flat head screw driver.

[djdj]

I agree with Fishman. That worked for me in a similar situation.

[cgolvin]

Looks like it isnt assembled right. Needs to be moved over one tab to the right , if that makes sense.

D'oh. You (and hokoman) are right, pilot error that I completely failed to observe.

Think I'll try the hacksaw/flathead screwdriver approach, fallback to the extractor product.

Thanks all

(@pdmtong: it's not a GP product, just uses their mount design)

[Tony T]

Looks like an easy removal with.
Drill a small pilot hole (go with a small speed), insert the easy-out and set the drill to reverse, and slow speed again.

Alden 4507P Micro Grabit Broken Bolt Extractor 4 Piece Kit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q60UOO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) (Will Extract Screw Sizes #5 Up To 1/4" Or M3 Up To M6)

[shoota]

Tap a slightly larger Torx bit into it. Works great

[unterhausen]

I find a dremel and a cutoff blade to slots more easily.

[Olison3]

https://www.amazon.com/EssentialTools-Extractor-Stripped-Hardness-63-65hrc/dp/B07GZ17QD9[/url]


This works for me...

[Lewis Moon]

If you can get a hacksaw blade in, cut a notch for a flat screw driver.
This. I've done it with a dremmel tool and a cut off wheel too. Use a wide tip screwdriver.

[93svt96]

D'oh. You (and hokoman) are right, pilot error that I completely failed to observe.

Think I'll try the hacksaw/flathead screwdriver approach, fallback to the extractor product.

Thanks all

(@pdmtong: it's not a GP product, just uses their mount design)

It looks like there is a lot of pressure on the head and its bent so this method may work but if it doesn't getting the head off to relieve pressure on the threads may be necessary. Just a smaller drill on the headless threads may get it to spin out.

[Ralph]

Hammer and a screw driver....make a slot. Or force in a larger torx, etc. Reverse drill and spin up.

[glepore]

I'd try tapping in a torx wrench, and see if you can get bite. Hit it with Kroil or PB Blaster and let it penetrate a bit first.

This. I've used this on everything from a seized MB steering wheel bolt to overtightened ti pedals.

[Ken Robb]

I have sometimes solved this problem by lightly pounding in a Phillips screw driver head that is a bit bigger than the stripped bolt head.

[cgolvin]

Thanks all.

After unsuccessfully trying the hacksaw/flathead screwdriver approach I just gave up and bought replacement parts, since I was pretty sure that at least one of them was going to be toast.

Still a valuable learning experience, like many on The Paceline.

[pdmtong]

Looks like it isnt assembled right. Needs to be moved over one tab to the right , if that makes sense.
you are right...just hacksaw the piece off and move on to a new one (not to self...do not do this again)

FWIW pounding a torx head into a stripped fizik bolt has saved my post....

[skiezo]

I have taken an old pos allen wrench an tack weld it onto the bolt head.
I know this is not something that everyone can do but it works great.