Broken bolt

[Pa PITT]

... I'm 70 & I just saw the candle & heat a couple of years ago .
iT TOOK TWICE BUT IT SURE WORKED . DON'T GET TO ROUGH AT 1ST . Pop it with a dead blow hammer . Any thing to shake it. Just don't break the ease out off in it.
.. Try the candle .

 

[Howard2x4x4]

So I have my salvaged explorer timing cover with a broken off bolt in it. Drilled hole for easy out, but it won't budge, even with my miracle mix of 50/50 acetone/ transmission fluid. Never tried heat on Aluminum parts, ideas?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Any update? Hope you won.

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

Any update? Hope you won.

Well here's the update. I partially won. Tried Heat with propane torch 1st and easy out, no go.
Then welded a steel bolt on, waited for it to cool, then applied heat to timing cover with propane torch, the welded bolt BROKE off above weld, above threads of new bolt. Yep, new bolt FAILED.
Tried welding another time, failed again.
Drilled through bolt already, so enlarged hole by 1/16ths on drill press using cutting oil.
Looked up the size of the bolt, found a tap for it, confirmed tap in other water pump hole, looked up drill size for that tap as "F".
Put drill F in other water pump hole, not much clearance, so I went a little smaller, 1/4" bit and drilled through bolt. Was able to then use metal drift and get bolt to come off the aluminum case.
Used my craftsman thread chaser with 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone, cleaned out threads, retapped with cutting oil. I can see I lost a little bit of threads. IF the bolt won't torque down to specifications during assembly, I will use longer bolt and put a nut behind the timing cover.

NOW, is the damage to the water pump housing area significant? Should I toss this timing cover? Didn't really think about it until I cleaned it up and WOW, somebody really didn't want to replace their Water Pump. Should I smooth it down? IF so, with what? Polish it? Ideas?

All you hydrodynamic engineers chime in now. Bernoulli's disciples need to be heard.

;D

 

[svastano]

Glad you got the bolt out but that us ugly! I am not a professional so I will let them answer if good to use or not.

 

[Master Chief]

If you determine that cover is serviceable, you should install a helicoil in the bolt hole with the damaged threads. They are a standard repair in aircraft oil pumps, accessory drive housings, and reduction gear boxes after the mechanics fail to use a torque wrench and the studs pull out. You should be able to find an inexpensive repair kit at most auto parts stores. I know our local NAPA has them.

 

[Broncobowsher]

repop covers also exist. That cover is actually one of the easier parts to get. Don't loose the waterpump pulley, that is un-obtanium the last I looked.

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

But guys, do I need to fix the rough innards? Polish or smooth down? Or will my water pump still do its job, just less efficiently?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[74 Bronco Billy]

Ps, got a lot of threads left, I don't think I will need to helicoil.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[Master Chief]

You could always install a bolt now to see if it torques to spec because it is much easier to do a thread repair on the bench.

 

[svastano]

The heat and then the wax work together. Heat loosens the joint and then the candle wax wicks in and helps lubricate the threads to ease it out. I did many of bolts this way.

Never heard of using a candle with heat, can someone explain?

 

[CopperRanger]

The heat and then the wax work together. Heat loosens the joint and then the candle wax wicks in and helps lubricate the threads to ease it out. I did many of bolts this way.

Ok, thanks. So the wax gets pulled into the threads similar to sweating a water pipe.

 

[rmk57]

In my opinion it should be fine to use as is or smooth the high spots with emery cloth it you want. On the mating surface use s light coat of Permatex gasket maker along with your replacement gasket.

Iv'e seen alot worse than that seal up just fine.