pistol grip broken screw help!

CC89

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Hello CGN

Long story short... the screw head broke... there's a couple cm's still sticking out though

Any ideas on getting it out? I was thinking a vice grip but I don't think it will work as It was extremely hard screwing it in there.

I think the best way would be to find a bolt that fits the thread and weld it on... then unscrew it

any ideas?


Thank you!
Chris
 
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Ok thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll give the vice grip a go. If that doesn't work, i'll cut a notch and use a flat head

Cheers
 
Get a broken screw/stud removal bit. It should cost less than $10 will definitely get it out. After it's out, run a tap through the hole to clean it out. I think it's 1/4-28x1 screw you'll need to buy as a replacement.
 
With two CM sticking out heat the bolt up; grab it with a vise grip, and turn it out. It's that easy. As wood973 said, run a tap in the hole to clean out the excess finish.
 
If your visegrip method fails your may have to weld a nut on it ,the heat will help un jam it get your self some welders tape and tape the receiver well so welding splatter can't stick . If that fails drilling and retaping might be your only opinion . Won't be easy your drill bit will want to wonder to the softer metals so short bits and well chucked in a vice bolted to a drill press . To get your center grind the broken bolt flat and try and center punch to get your drill started cutting oil and Patience will get her dunn ! If you can get it chucked level a small level on the pistol block should get you close to square so you can drill it straight . Wer pulling for ya !
 
You have it jammed in there good if you snapped the head off the bolt . The vice grip thing is iffy , heat even worse but you may get lucky. .Don't try to drill it by hand . Should be set up in a mill and center drilled to relieve the tension on the bolt and with luck you may be able to clean the threads . A machine operator with a mill is the proper way to handle it. Steel into aluminum binds up if over torqued .My two cents
 
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A couple cm's of shank is a fair bit of meat to grab a hold of as someone else pointed out. I will only add that you should use good quality vice grips not a worn out, cheap knock off set and clamp it on hard ...... :)

It seems odd that the painter would cote the threads at all let alone enough to jam the bolt..... are you sure you didn't cross thread the bolt?
 
Assuming this is a steel bolt going into aluminum, aluminum expands more with heat than steel does. Heating the surrounding aluminum should help loosen it. I would use a heat gun to avoid damaging anything.
 
If your visegrip method fails your may have to weld a nut on it ,the heat will help un jam it get your self some welders tape and tape the receiver well so welding splatter can't stick . If that fails drilling and retaping might be your only opinion . Won't be easy your drill bit will want to wonder to the softer metals so short bits and well chucked in a vice bolted to a drill press . To get your center grind the broken bolt flat and try and center punch to get your drill started cutting oil and Patience will get her dunn ! If you can get it chucked level a small level on the pistol block should get you close to square so you can drill it straight . Wer pulling for ya !

If you are going to do that; do it in a milling machine, and be prepared to drill and tap oversize and install a thread insert. The cost of hiring this out would be about the same as buying an new lower.
 
Don't use heat, it won't work and only damage your finish. Heat expands the metal/bolt and makes it harder to get out. Heat works great for rusted or corroded parts. You heat it up and then cool it rapidly to break the bond of the rust. Yours broke from the interferance fit of the threads from the coating. Soak it in penetrating oil, the longer the better. Then try the visegrips, if you feel it twisting STOP.

Lesson for all CLEAN OUT ALL THREADS AFTER COATING PARTS

Not true, heat the bolt, cook the coating, let cool. The expansion of the bolt and it's subsequent contraction should, with some lube, allow it's relatively easy extraction.
 
Dremel a slot if the vise grips don’t work, if the slot and screwdriver are a tight fit it has always worked for me in a pinch. A reverse drill bit might get it out as well.

Actually with a couple of cementers, dremel a couple of flats for the vise-grips.
 
Actually with a couple of cementers, dremel a couple of flats for the vise-grips.

That’s true, if the length is there and you can file things flat enough to get a wrench on it things should come out easy enough. I’ve got a small pipe wrench that’s done the trick at times, if you can get the jaws to bite into the bolt it won’t slip off. The more pressure you give it the harder it will bite.
 
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