Broke off the head of a Nylon bolt - thoughts on how to get it out?

After going through this thread I decided to get the nylon bolts off ebay. They arrived and was starting to do the switch last night. Broke the head off one of the bolts and curious how you guys would go about getting it out.

I did try to drill it out last night with a small drill bit, but that wasn't working. My second thought was to get a heat gun to soften up the nylon and then use a pick tool or something to try to get it out? Or soften it up to put a pick tool or drill bit, let it dry and then pull it out?

So, what do you guys think would be the best way to get this thing out?

Spoiler: Large Picture

 

Maybe soften it up with a heat gun, then poke/hammer a small flathead screwdriver into it? Let it cool and back it out.

 

I would first tape off that area of the wheel so you don't make an annoying scratch in the nice wheels.
You could possibly heat up a flat screw driver (or something similar) enough to press it in to the nylon, let it cool, then you might be able to turn it out???

 

Basically this. Heat the screwdriver though, not the bolt.

Seen an old timer do that once in a plant. He had a dedicated flat head, needle nose pliers, and a blow torch just for that piece of equipment haha. Get the screwdriver hot enough to melt into the plastic and start backing it out.

 

Thanks guys!

I have some things to try this afternoon after I finish putting the rest of the bolts in.

 

Did you try heating the tip of screwdriver till hot, and then sticking it into the broken end of the bolt till it cools....then try loosing the bolt?

 

I didn't have a heat gun at home, have a few at work so going to try that over lunch.

 

A little late if you already tried to drill it out, but left handed bits will sometimes get a not so stuck bolt (w/ broken head) to back out. The heated screwdriver is a good idea.

 

^^- This
Then go to McMaster.com and get a bottoming tap (~$8) to clean out the threads.
Next time go easy on tightening and make sure that the bolt length is less than the fully threaded hole depth.

 

I forget the name of the product but there is something for just that purpose. As you back drill into it, it grips and removes the bolt. Sorry couldn't remember the name.

 

Easy out.

 

Luckily my work office is right next door to a machine shop. So if I can't get it out by heating up a flat head and backing it out I'm going to the next door over for help.

 

Keep using progressively larger drills until you can't use anything larger; if you have left-hand bits, that would likely work, or, failing that, when you get to your largest drill size, just use an Easy-out or similar extractor.

 

Pretty sure the hot screwdriver will work mint. Just dont over heat / over melt the remaining plastic or youll end up making a mess and the screwdriver wont bite.

 

I have an Easy Bake...

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll post back the outcome in a few hours!

 

You'll need something stronger than a heat gun...propane torch works well.

 

i would get a soldering iron with a flat bit and place it right in the middle creating a slot for a screwdriver. small and quick.

 

That was my nickname is college

 

Just looked up the heat gun we have in the back, temps range from 120F-1020F (49C-549C) and a basic google search says nylon 66 (I don't know if this bolt is nylon 66, but it is nylon) has a melting point of 515.9F/268.8C. So from just numbers on paper it should be able to get hot enough.