gas tank help

[Guest]

i was tanking my fuel shut off off my gas tank tonight so i could prep it for paint when one of the bolts would not screw out it just spun there... i ended up drilling the head off to get the fuel shut out remove and now i need help removing this bolt... do i drill it out the just tap some new threads in there and use a bigger bolt what have others out there done in this case thanks for your help

[tkent02]

Put a vice grip on the end of the bolt, pull HARD while unscrewing it.
It may come out if you are lucky.

[JEEPRUSTY]

The bolt is now headless and freely spins?
It would seem that the nut welded into the tank may have broken off.

Nasty business but it has had to have happened to folks here.
Don't despair someone will chime in with a fix or work around.

[tkent02]

The bolt is now headless and freely spins?
It would seem that the nut welded into the tank may have broken off.

If that were the case you could just push it into the tank and use another nut and stud... I think it's stripped, or at least partly stripped.

[TyFerris]

ive put a vise grip on it and tried that but nothing... the bolt is still in the hole just spins but doesnt un screw so im guessing stripped... i just dont know why i cant get it out

[JEEPRUSTY]

Hey this has happened to me on frame bolts.
The fastener is completely stripped but only within the length of the nut.

See if you can slot the thing and push hard and screw it into the tank.

[TyFerris]

okay ill try that my next question is is this tank still useable

[JEEPRUSTY]

I imagine the nut in the tank is far harder metal than the bolt.
It prolly is ok and even if the threads are messed a bit you can chase em with a tap or even go a size bigger.

[TyFerris]

SWEET... lets hope so thanks for your help ill let you know how it goes

[rustybronco]

If you have to drill it, start your drilling in the EXACT center of the bolt. start with a small drill bit and work your way up the scale, finishing with a drill that just fits inside the still good threaded bolt hole used to mount the fuel shut-off. when the broken bolt is drilled to the final size, then you can slowly and carefully run a tap through what's left of the bolt to chase the threads. if you're lucky, the initial cause was stripped threads on the bolt, not the threads in the bolt hole.

[TyFerris]

well the problem im goin to have with drilling(which is looking like what im goin to do) is that when i drill the screw will just spin with the bolt... and i dont have enuf bolt left to get a vise grip or anything on... any ideas?

[rustybronco]

A small amount of wicking type thread locker between bolt and retainer and leave it set over night? http://www.fastenal.com/web/products...l.ex?sku=62409

[Normk]

Perhaps I am misunderstanding the problem but as it sounds to me, the bolt is either stripped out for its threaded portion which within the retainer nut, or the nut is turning within the tank. Are you able to discern which?

Removal will be a different problem, depending on which of the above is the issue.

If the bolt is turning with the retainer nut, it is likely that the threaded section of the bolt has stripped leaving a section beyond the nut. The damaged area at the ends of the stripped section and damage to the threads within the nut will prevent the bolt section from screwing out unless, as someone suggested, you are lucky in being able to pull on the bolt while attempting to screw it out.

If it will not screw out, I usually try to jam the bolt into the nut by staking with a small push type center punch and then pressing an "O" ring pick or prick punch into the depression. Gentle drilling while doing this will sometimes allow the bolt to be drilled out but it is a procedure requiring feel and luck. If not, some have had success with an epoxy to lock the bolt to nut and gentle drilling.

I usually use a small die grinder with 1/8" burrs to section the bolt and remove but there are other techniques. A Dremel type electric die grinder is a very useful tool, especially if one buys a collet set to allow it to chuck smaller sized burrs. My dentist is happy to save chipped dental burrs which he gives me to solve these kinds of problems. The dental burrs are good quality and it doesn't matter if more than one are consumed in the process, given the cost is nothing. The supply is limited so obviously a really tough one like a broken drill bit or tap is not removable in this manner but bolts are not a big deal.

If the retainer nut is turning in the tank, you have a bigger problem which can be solved by removing and reattaching a new nut or threaded plate, welding up the area, drilling and tapping, etc. Again, one of the high quality epoxy products such as Devcon liquid steel can be an solution, especially if used to hold a steel insert.

Any chance of photos?

[silverhorse47]

Have you tried pressing down and turning the bolt into the tank?

S.

[TyFerris]

i got the bolt out, the problem was the bolt spinning in the nut... the threads on the bolt where hosed