Busted clutch spring bolt

Hey guys,

Just joined although I've been a fan of VFRs forever and previously had an 86 for a short time. I just bought a 98 and decided to do the clutch because the friction point was only like the last 1/2-3/4". Anyway, got everything in but 2 of the Barnett metal plates were warped so i reused 2 factory ones after verifying trueness.

Anyway, as I was tightening the Barnett springs, I was using the torque wrench but before it clicked, one of the spring retaining bolts snapped off at the head. The bolt is now about 1/8" inside of the pressure plate and I don't know how to go about getting it out.

Any suggestions? I can send pics if that would help although all you'll see is a bolt stuck inside the pressure plate without a head.

Thanks

 

I have seen this many times and with a little patience I have managed to dig them all oot as they tend to still be loose in the threads and are willing to come oot. A left handed drill bit will do it but most people do not have them and a seal pickwill work as well, just pick at it counter clock wise and it will slowly come oot until you can get your fingers on it. Aboot a two beer job.

 

You could get one of those spring loaded punches and kinda just punch at it (counter clockwise) on the out side to back it oot. If you do drill it oot, you gota bulls-eye the bolt so its dead center with the above mentioned punch.

I dont use torque wrenches for that kinda shit, you see what happens...I have a right and left calibrated elbow for them inch pounds yah know...I trust my hand with a T-Handle more than my Snap-On clickers for small stuff like that (inch pound clicker has its place though) anywhoo..Keep us posted fer gawds sake!!!!

 

Harbor Freight torque wrench ?? Whatever, probably Chinese. As ridevfr sayeth, your judgement, based upon experience, is usually more reliable than anything but a very expensive torque wrench. It could have been much worse: the mounting point for the bolt could have broken, needing a very expensive part to be replaced.

 

thanks guys...went to my buddy's shop and borrowed a punch kit, a drill, and a reverse thread drill bit to work this thing out. I'm gonna give it a run tonight and see what happens. I bought a nice torque wrench from Kragen, but man, worthless. Either that or the bolts are just worn out. As far as using my 'calibrated elbow', unfortunately, my elbow is not calibrated at all and I am well-known for breaking bolts. Thus, I bought the torque wrench to avoid that...the irony!

 

No worries, the bolts are crazy fragile for some reason.......easy to break the first one.....best to tighten by hand unless using an inch pound torque wrench. Best to just tighten by hand. If your careful to center the bit on the bolt will spin oot.

 

I believe what you may be looking for is an "easy-out" kit.

 

Thanks guys! First time using the forum and you guys were a great help. I got home, used the punch, and then used the reverse bit and it came right out in about 2 minutes! Easy breezy! Already ordered new ones for all 5, finish installing Barnett clutch (cuz 2 steel plates were warped), install new headers from Delkevic (just arrived), put in new oil (drained out only 2 quarts including filter and he said it had just been serviced), K&N air filter cuz the stock one with 14,500 miles had about 20 peanut shells and large seeds on and in it!(unreal!). Then reassembly(also did plugs with NGK-R). Wow! I just bought this thing and I'm already bringing it back to true form!(he thought it lost compression cuz it wasn't as fast and was certain his mechanics were doing a great job, well, I think the lack of sufficient oil could explain my clutch issue and the air filter and such the lack of performance, but oh well-it'll be badass when done. Maybe throw a Gen-1 rear wheel on it!

 

9 ft-lbs is hard to set on a big clicker reading in fl-lbs--need to use a smaller unit, 9 ft-lbs = 108 in-lbs...but you probably already knew that.

 

I love a happy ending.