Rounded off a torx (T30) head screw, while removing boot hinge

DivideBYZero

DivideBYZero

Zorg Guru (I)
Joined
Nov 3, 2013
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Location
Surrey
Model of Z
Z3 2.2
Any tips on what I can do? Everything else, including the lower T30, came off fine, but the top one, in the pic, was apparently made of butter. GRRR!
 

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There's pretty much nowhere to grab it with molegrips.
 
My suggestion if you can get in to it is as follows. Get an angle grinder with a very thin cutting disc ( about 2mm) cut a slot right across the screw head about 2-3mm deep. Now get a large flat blade screw driver, these days most have a hexagonal piece just below the handle and place in the slot you have made and turn it using a spanner on the hexagonal piece below the handle while applying pressure on the handle at the same time.HTH.

Tony.
 
Yes, cut a slot in it, the right tool on a dremel ?? or a hack saw tape off area so you don scratch it.
 
Try slotting the head as Tony has said, alternatively you could drill it out with a drill the same diameter as the thread. As soon as the back pressure is off the back of the head you can screw the thread out with some pliers.
 
Thanks guys, I'll try creating a slot in it first, then look at the torx extractor. It's have to be next weekend now. :)

I'm a bit gutted as I've been meaning to do this fix for ages. I got a replacement hinge from eBay, with no play in it at all, for a great price. It was a dark green with a blue hue of some kind and had some surface rust and paint bubbling in one area. I got some Kurust and some BMW Graphite metallic (not my paint code, but close enough for the boot hinge!), prepped the metal, used the kurust and painted. Restored hinge pic attached. I think it came out OK.
 

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I always use my draper stud extractor set, only £8, as per Brian just drill a hole about 5mm deep with a 3mm drill, use a slow speed,mthevotherthetheboth just screw the extractor in, it is left handed so will undo the bolt.
 
Thanks everyone. I've ordered the stud extractor set linked above and a new bolt, both from eBay. I love the internet!
 
It's called mighty big hand syndrome, can't all have pixies fingers HT =))
 
IF on a torx the inside is rounded, i've once been able to get it out with an "inbus" (Hexagon).
I've got a set of these that fit on to a socket-wrench. So you take the bit -make sure it is big enough: should just not really fit- , you need to hit it in with a hamer (that's why it grips later on)...then put the socket-wrench on it and out is comes (as you can put a lot of force on a socket wrench and still undo it gently)
:)
 
Cheaper option is to drill it out, use a drill a size down from the screw thread, the heat generated may well looses the bolt any way. Then use a tap to chase out the thread.

Mike
 
Or take a dremel or hacksaw and cut a screwdriver slot across it if you have easy access and use a large screwdriver to remove. You've got options so go to it!! JIM
 
oldcarman said:
Or take a dremel or hacksaw and cut a screwdriver slot across it if you have easy access and use a large screwdriver to remove. You've got options so go to it!! JIM
Click to expand...

Yep, been there, f-cked that up. Hacksaw line was too thin for my huge screwdriver (story of my life...!).
 
When all else fails a large hammer.
Yer I know thats no help but its probably what your thinking.:bashhead:
 
I didn't get to work on it this weekend, I was doing the Cancer Research Winter run 10K. Now I can't walk.
 
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