Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

[Cptkid570]

Has anyone ever stripped the hinge pin in the alpha 1 transom assembly. Trying to change my bellows. Using the hinge pin tool, heat, and lubricant. Got the starbord side. Can't get the port side. Put so much pressure on it that the hinge pin stripped.

What do I do now? Drill it out? Has anyone ever tried this? It's stainless steel, right? I guess I'll get some cobolt drill bits.

Any other ideas? No way to change the u-joint bellow without taking out the hinge pin right?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

You could try drilling it, but you can also have a nut welded to the pin and use that to remove it. plus the heat will get rid of any loktite.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

I've taken quite a few broken /stripped bolts and nuts off the way BT Doctur describes. Works wonders. FAR easier than trying to drill it out.

 

[bigbroncoxlt]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

Went mine stripped I got an ez out that fits in a socket from snapon, then heated it with the torch and out it came. I'd have to go find the ez-out that I bought though to tell you what size it was. It worked flawlessly.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

The reason why the hinge pin stripped is because it is in there very very well. I used a torch to heat it up and you would not believe how much pressure I put on it before it stripped. I even broke one of my 1/2" sockets on it...so, welding a bolt onto it may not allow me to put any more pressure on it than I already have

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

Well, as mentioned, the welding puts a lot of heat on the hinge pin - probably more than your typical torch is going to put on it.... the heat serves to break the locktite bond - also as mentioned.

If you want to drill it out - go at it! But if it were me, I would try the welding tip first.

 

[achris]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

Is the thread stripped or the socket head rounded out... Big difference. If the thread is stripped then just punch it out from the inside. If the socket is rounded then, as already suggested, weld something in there.

Chris........

 

[bigbroncoxlt]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

I used an extractor like the one found in this link.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=10539&group_ID=1262

Like I said in the previous post, I don't remember exactly what size it was. The extractors are in my tool box at work and I won't be back there until Tuesday. If you can weld a nut or something to the stainless and get it to hold its also an option. I'm just letting you know what worked for me. My hinge pin had absolutely no teeth left in it to get any grip on when I used the extractor.

Are you using an Oxy-Acetylene torch, or just a propane jobby?

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

Thank you all for your help. I was able to get it out today. I basically drilled it out, but I used a drill bit that was just smaller than the threaded part of the hinge pin... so, i was able to break it away after drilling it so close. It was the head of the hinge pin that was stripped (not the threads)... turns out that I was able to save the threads, so I'll be able to just bolt another hinge pin into it (I lucked out).

I'm pretty sure the hinge pin is stainless steel. I'd bought a cobolt drill bit for it and it cut through it very easily.. I was surprised about that.

 

[bigbroncoxlt]

Re: Stripped Alpha 1 hinge pin

Yes, the hinge pin is stainless. All fasteners on a boat should be. Glad you got it out.