• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

exhaust bolts stuck

  • Thread starter Thread starter sae3231
  • Start date Start date
S

sae3231

Guest
I have a 82 gs1100l, I was trying to remove the exhaust to repair it and I broke three of the eight header bolts. There is between 1/4 and 3/8 inch of exposed bolt. What is the best way to remove them. Should I heat them up before I try a bolt extractor or will the steel bolt and aluminum head make this more difficult?
 
Some things you can try is spray on a penetrating ion activated lube like Castle Thrust before trying to get em out, use a bolt extractor, try vice grips, or use an angle grinder to slot a slot in the bolt and use a screw driver.... shouldn't be THAT hard...
 
A good penetrent let them soak,try tightening just a bit and then try to loosen them.Sometimes just getting threads to move in any direction gets them moving in both.Don
 
I have had good luck heating the head a bit with asmall torch to loosen any gunk in the threads and to swell the aluminum up a bit.
IF you have acess to awelder, i can't tell you how nice it is to tack on a nut and just back the sucker out with a socket. :-D
 
I gotta vouch for PB Blaster...that stuff loosens stuck bolts like that's its job...(oh wait....)
 
ANOTHER solid vote for PB Blaster. Luckily I had read ALL the horror stories about the imfamous "seized" exhaust flange bolts. I sprayed mine on a daily basis, and let them just sit for about 2 weeks. All my bolts came out with minimal force.
 
Oh the never ending pain of removing stuck or broken bolts... When I first got my bike (2001) I was in such a hurry that I sprayed a little WD-40 on the bolts and tried taking them right out.... bad idea as I broke 3 of the 4 bolt heads off in the head. Then I thought I could get the "EZ-Out" tool from Sears... what a misnomer (when used incorrectly :oops: ). Broke the EZ-Out off in the bolt stud... from here I had to take it to a shop have it drilled out and heli-coils put in. All-in-all about $85 for the job that could have been avoided had I purchased some good penetrating oil and taken my time.

I have since become a self proclaimed "master" at removing stuck bolts with the help of a good penetrating oil (another vote for PB Blaster) and patience. If a bolt is stuck do NOT force it, use the oil, take your time. 1/2 turn out, 1/4 turn in (lube it up), 1/2 turn out (that's only if it's sticks the whole way out) sometimes once they break free they come out with your fingers.

I have also had bolts act very funny (as if mocking me).... First it sticks like a sun-of-a-gun...work slowly at it... then snap there goes the bolt head... CURSE CURSE CURSE....when I calm down and investigate the damage what is left of the bolt twists right out with my hand.... I think the MC gods are toying with me :-D

Remember you cannot rush a good thing, and a bolt coming out in one piece is a good thing!!!

Been there, broken that, had to learn to fix it! Thanks GSR!!!

Good Luck!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top