Broken bolts?

flibbage0 · 29 Jun 2011 at 17:23

Basically, I have a cross trainer

No hotlinking

The main middle metal pole bit has two threaded bolts near the bottom and they have both snapped, tried drilling it out using a centre punch and drill but it won't budge.

Does anyone know how I can get the bolts out (even if it does mean damaging the thread, in which case is it possible to repair the thread)

Many thanks

QlimaxUK · 29 Jun 2011 at 17:41

how heavy are you?

flibbage0 · 29 Jun 2011 at 17:52

QlimaxUK said:
how heavy are you?

Haha funny, the machine is 7 years old nearly.

Paul. W · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:18

flibbage0 said:
tried drilling it out using a centre punch and drill but it won't budge.

You tried drilling it out with a centre punch? If that IS what you have tried then of course it wont budge!

Get a decent quality sharp drill bit and drill it out properly. It will come out. Does the thread go all the way through the tube? If so, you could helicoil it. If it doesnt, you could tap a new larger thread in it and use a larger bolt next time.

Tefal · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:20

Paul. W said:
You tried drilling it out with a centre punch? If that IS what you have tried then of course it wont budge!

Get a decent quality sharp drill bit and drill it out properly. It will come out. Does the thread go all the way through the tube? If so, you could helicoil it. If it doesnt, you could tap a new larger thread in it and use a larger bolt next time.

no he said he tried to drill it out with a drill after using a centre punch on it.

Cosimo · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:23

flibbage0 said:
Haha funny, the machine is 7 years old nearly.

So that heavy.

bledd · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:36

I had a bolt snap flash on my air con tensioner of my car.

My farmer/mechanic mate got it out by putting a washer over it (that had a hole the same size as the bolt) and then welding a bigger bolt to that one.

So he had more leverage to remove the original

DrewBrees · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:50

Is any of the bolt protruding out of the bolt hole? If there is, you can usually cut a slot in the end of it with a junior hacksaw and turn it out with a hefty screwdriver.

Fuzz · 29 Jun 2011 at 18:53

Welder or screw slot ideas are probably the favourites /\ IMO

Have you not got a pic of the actual thing that's broken, might see a better way round it then.