Stripped fairing bolts

Decided after two years of riding that I should start doing my own work. I have two stripped fairing bolts. I think I saw some pictures of this where they use a very small drill and then a little steel pencil (the only thing I can think of) and push into the hole and turn counter clock wise and the stripped bolt should roll out.

P.S. what are silver drill bits for and what are the gold ones for?

 

The color of the drill usually denotes different metal and/or a different coating. I'm lost on the steel pencil bit. Some pics of what bolts you are dealing with / trying to remove should help. Depends on where they are and what access you have to what parts as to what I would reccomend for removal/destruction of said bolts.

 

Oh, wait, I think I figured it out. You're talking about an extractor kit. Usually you drill a specific size hole into a broken/stripped fastener, then you drive in/push in the extractor part (steel pencil) and it bites the boogered fastener inside the hole you just drilled. Great tool to have, takes a little practice to use it properly. There are multiple different designs of extractors. Again, pics please so we can advise you what to need to do. Using an extractor kit is not quick and easy and there may be a better soloution to your dilemma.

 

some pics

I took some pics:





it's seems to have different types of bolts on it: Allen and Phillips

 

I'm starting to see why you need good caliber metal for your tools and bolts. I was watching a video earlier about die and cast and when the guy was drilling the hole with the tool he started complaining about cheap tools and why you need quality stuff.

 

These kits seem good. There is one of these shops around the corner.

Search results for: 'extracter kit'

 

If you drill the head off the fastener and remove the plastic you should have enough material left to grip and remove. You can also try to drive a torx bit of just bit larger size into the allen head bolt to get another shot at it. Lots of ways to defeat stuff like this but getting the plastic oot of the way helps alot.

 

I've had pretty good luck with left hand drill bits. Most of the time, at some point during the drilling, the screw will back out. If it doesn't, a standard screw extractor will finish the job.

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I admire your decision to do your own wrenching, but extracting stripped fasteners is not an easy place to start and buying a cheap kit will get you expensive results. Take this one to a mechanic, he'll have them out in no time and you can take it from there.

 

Well, pics certainly do help. What TC said is an excellent idea and much easier than using an extractor. I wonder if you couldn't get them off using an impact driver though, the one's pictured don't look totally destroyed. A lot of the time when these get a little boogered they will want to back your tool out of the fastener. This will further the stripping and not allow you to put any real torque on the fastener itself. If you don't have an impact driver allready it's a very handy tool to have around for stuck/rusty bolts to get em loose quick and easy without bleedin all over the place or slipping with a regular screwdriver and puttin a big gouge strait across a nice shiny fairing.

Then again they may be totally fuct and I'm runnin you around in circles!!!!!!!

 

The easiest thing to do is take a Dremel and cut a slot into the bolt head and then use a large flat tip screwdriver to unscrew it.

Rollin

 

thanks to all for your suggestions

 

+1 I was gonna say that.

 

+1 on the +1.

Carefully slot the head with a Dremel and then turn out. Immediately after, toss any and all Phillips head screws and replace with JIS or Allen.

Phillips heads are bad, bad news.

 

I love this group. JIS, Dremel, I'm get to look up and learn about so much stuff

 

JIS screws are far superior to Phillips (which really should be outlawed, IMO).

You'll need a set of drivers for these - check out this link for more intel:

http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/32309-stripping-phillips-screw-heads-not-your-fault.html

 

I always put anti-seize on my fairing bolts especially, so they come out nice and easy the next time i need to do some wrenching.

 

Is there any good brand names for the anti-seize?

 

success

I went to home depot to see if anything caught my eye. I picked this little set up for twenty dollars. The little tool far left, second row took out the stripped Alen bolt and a new and improved Phillips type removed the other one. Maybe I used an Alen Wrench on a wrong screw. Is there one that looks like it?