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Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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srf$
New User
Jan 10, 2014, 3:07 PM
Post #1 of 6
(1712 views)
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Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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I'm afraid I've stripped a bolt head securing the battery bracket. It's in a tricky spot, hiding underneath a lip at the front of the engine compartment, where a ratchet or wide wrench can't fit. I've been thinking of fitting a closed end wrench to the bolt head and applying some loctite to both the head and wrench, and let that set. I thought that could provide a secure enough connection for the force I'd need to apply to get the bolt going. Of course, the loctite would have to be on the wrench and bolt head only. Then I could bang the wrench off with a hammer to finish turning the bolt--maybe with a different, untainted wrench. I've never used loctite, but I know it comes in different adhesive strengths. Is this a totally idiotic idea?
The car isn't mine, I'm borrowing it from a family member (w/ permission!) who's on vacation. Battery died and I need to replace.
2009 Toyota Highlander Limited
V6
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2014, 3:18 PM
Post #2 of 6
(1705 views)
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Re: Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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There's a wild assortment of approaches to damaged fasteners and Locktite and trying stick to a wrench isn't one.
Heat with battery out. Other size forced over a rounded head if so. #1 is don't break it if already hard to get tools on it drilling it out will be a real pest.
Put some PB on it and look to see where you can apply stuff like that on where it's threaded. If you really can't handle it secure battery somehow just for the quick ride to a shop that would have tons of tools to deal with a problem like that,
T
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srf$
New User
Jan 10, 2014, 8:04 PM
Post #3 of 6
(1689 views)
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Re: Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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Thanks for the tip. I already put some WD-40 on it. I'll keep PB in mind for the future.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2014, 10:25 PM
Post #4 of 6
(1682 views)
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Re: Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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PB is infinitely better than WD-40 for freeing up a corroded bolt etc. when other tricks can't be used. If you have a small pipe wrench that type of thing. There are assortments of nut/bolt extractors also. Bolt is trashed so you need a new one but breaking it off can be a horror show depending on what and where.
I live in a rust belt area but things around a battery are easily stuck/rotted and a problem. That's why techs have a box full of stuff and tricks and still fight.
If this thing is part of the battery hold down and really messes up there are universal kits that can sometimes do. Amazing how much trouble you can get in over what should have been fairly easy to begin with no doubt. Good luck,
T
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srf$
New User
Jan 11, 2014, 8:51 PM
Post #5 of 6
(1655 views)
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Re: Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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Tom,
That PB Blaster did the trick! The bolt head hadn't rounded so much that it wouldn't turn. Wouldn't have happened w/o the PB, though. I heated the bolt a bit from the bottom with a lighter, shot it w/ some PB, waited about 10 minutes, gave another dose of PB, and put the wrench on. Didn't take any kind of struggle and it seems crazy it had ever been so difficult in the first place. Thanks for the tip!
Best,
Sean
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 11, 2014, 9:13 PM
Post #6 of 6
(1652 views)
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Re: Stripped bolt head in tricky spot
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Glad it worked out. PB with some time is a unique product. Heat I was really referring to glowing hot but not looking at the exact problem.
General with battery trays, area and hold down fasteners is to grease them. WD-40 has it's place all over just not the strongest penetrating oil.
Good luck. I'll close the thread to keep spammer out and you can ask any moderator to re-open in if you wish,
Tom
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