Snapped Bolt Head Off In AC Clutch FML

Sooo, pretty much I'm an idiot. Over torqued bolt when attaching the clutch back on my AC. Anyone have any tips to get this bolt out before I have to get the freon evacuated and pull my compressor off. Ive been trying to use one of those screw extractors but I can't get behind the extractor to hammer it in. Even if I removed my radiator. There still isn't enough room. There's, not enough of the bolt sticking out to grab w/ needle nose vice grips. Any other suggestions?

 

Long cold chisel. Get it so you are biting edge of bolt and tap it out. At least you are tapping down instead of laying on your back.... come right out, you got plenty hanging out. Good luck

 

So tap a chisel into it to make a groove and then tap it free w a hammer?

 

I think he's suggesting hitting the chisel while wedged against a thread in the direction that would unfasten the bolt.

You could try cutting a notch and unscrewing it, that's usually the first option I go to. A dremel with a cutting wheel is what I would recommend for cutting the notch. Here's one I made a few weeks ago while replacing an evap switching valve.

 

No, you just bite into the top of it but at an angle so it turns it out. That crappy picture i drew half ass explains it. The view is as if you were looking at the bolt. It should come right out. Chisel needs to be sharp enough to bite the bolt, or a sharp center punch with same process but do it from front.

 

Or this, even use a hack saw blade

 

thank you. ill try it out

 

you would be surprised how well these work.

https://www.amazon.com/slp/left-hand-drill-bits/q3k8qjv9mbea8ys

 

What are you hammering? You need to drill out the center before using the extractor.

 

If you can’t get it out easily something that always works is taking washers and welding them to the bolt,then welding a nut to the washers and then backing it out.We have to do it all the time on big trucks because they love using regular bolts in aluminum housings and the bolts rust to hell and back inside the alternator and ac compressor brackets and break off all the damn time

 

I have done this countless times on marine engines and outdrives. It is by far the best way to remove something that is accessible.

 

Drill it out with the biggest bit you can, grab some jb weld. Carefully fill the hole with the bit in it with the jb weld.

You can Either use vise grips directly on the bit to spin it out, or you can find a nut to slide over it snug and jb weld that on.


Done this process more times than I like to admit. Never had an issue.

 

The best answer here is from Glamisman, leaving the pressure lines connected remove compressor from mount and tie wrap back to mount with nose pointing down and no strain on lines. Use #10 left handed drill bit at half to low speed, it will come right out with little to no stress to the compressor ie no heat no hammers.....did'ent know You could get left hand bits from Amazon....TKS.

 

No way. The best answer is to leave the belt off and suffer like the rest of us. Does your window not open? Besides, think of all that extra hp... that combined with activating the ECT will result in G’s only astronauts can appreciate.

 

I need these in my life...

 

man, i live in palm springs. Its aboutto be 108 this sun. It gets up to 128 out here in a couple months. AC is a must and pretty quickly here.lol. or else I might have thought about it. But that extra hp is hard to pass up. lol

 

Ordered some last night. They should be arriving tomorrow. Hope it works.

 

My left-handed drill bits will be here tomorrow. I have a drill that will fit in that space. Do you think I'll need to unmount it? Also, one thing I was thinking about. That's the bolt that bolts down the ac clutch, which moves. Isn't that going to move when the drill catches and starts coming out? That wrench is a bitch to use while trying to do other shit at the same time.

 

I don't have access to welding equipment nor possess the skill to do that. lol I was trying to do this while not removing the compressor. Wouldnt I have to remove the compressor?

 

If you can unmount it so the shaft is more accessible, yeah, you will thank yourself later. Normally those bits will back it out right away but if you find yourself more drilling than extracting, it MUST be in the center of the bolt. Otherwise you just inadvertently installed what machinists call a “dutchman” which is normally intentional. Good luck!