Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

[further]

I'm dealing with a stripped hex drain plug in the lower unit and four very stubborn round flat head screws at the t-stat housing and the upper plug (which i just got out using the impact driver - putting in a tell tale). I got an easy out to try on the LU but will do that after I fog the engine for winterizing this weekend. I'm fussing with the four screws on the t-stat housing - got two loose with the impact driver but the other two won't budge - feel like i might damage something with the amount of times and force i need to wack it with. I've soaked them in wd-40 and will let sit in the motor up overnight and reapply again tomorrow before I try again. Question is i've heard of guys here recommending heat. I'm very new to all this and figuring out as i go, can I use a blow torch to apply heat and how much does it need? Sorry if this sounds stupid, but i've never done this before and would like to get these out finally. a 20 minute project always turns out to be a multi-day, multi $$ fiasco. gotta love it!!
Thanks everyone.

 

[chitownborn]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

got mine out with heat, went out and bought one of those torchs that use a can of map gas, i heated it real good then let it cool for a bit, applied more heat to the point i thought i might be melting the dam thing, wacked it with the impact and it freed up when you go to put new bolts in there hit them with some anti seize. i hear you on a twenty minute job turns into a major project i went to change the head gasket on my 85hp and every head bolt snapped with little pressure, long story short with alot of heat and some irwin bolt extractors i got all eighteen out in two and a half months good luck don

 

[notsunkyet]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

one other thing... Map gas is almost 2x or more hotter burning than propane so get the Map. here and old truckers trick i learned years ago and has served me well. heat the area up to where you think (NOT WHERE IT DOES) feel like the aluminum is going to start melting and have a sponge or rag soaked in brake fluid applu to hot area. The vapors/steam if you will, will start to seep into the threads and start to loosen things up a bit. it may take several time but it help tremendously!
also instead of wacking away at the impact driver get a GOOD six point socket and work the bolt with a breaker bar. On/off righty tighty - lefty lossy and in small increments.. remember the steel has "welded" itself to the aluminum and alot of times take the threads out with it but i have found the back and forth motion helps to prevent alt of this.
Good Luck and anti seize the snot out of them going back in!

 

[O.T.Water]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

Hey Arrggh, There is some good info about the little drain plug. Search the threads and you will find how to drill, enlarge and retap the hole.. Makes for faster draining later. Save that stainless plug you pulled for the telltale as you may want to use it on the lower unit. I think it's 1/4 NPT. Good Luck.

 

[further]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

Hey thanks for the advice guys. Yes, I've gone through the posts regarding drilling and retapping but would like to get away with not having to do that if I can since I've never done it before - guess got to learn somehow though. My plug on top of the t-stat is an 1/8" npt.

 

[moonfish]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

Drilling and tapping isn't bad. You just need the right drill bit and the right tap and a practice piece.

 

[further]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

I'm sure it isn't, i guess i'm just concerned about contaminating the lower unit with shavings, etc. But heard that grease on teh drill bit would help stop that?

 

[moparman]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

An easy way that I use is to weld a bigger nut to the bolt in question, with a mig welder, and the heat of the welding process heating up the stuck bolt also concentrates all the heat to the bolt and usually does no harm to the surrounding area like a torch will. Hope this will help in your bolt removal....MOPARMAN......ROLL TIDE

 

[further]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

Got the four t-stat buggers out finally - Thanks notsunkyet - the brake fluid tip definitly helped. Tried to do it on the lower unit drain plug but didnt work, its completely stripped out now. Will be researching drilling and tapping later. Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[notsunkyet]

Re: Arrggh!! damn seized bolts/screws

Got the four t-stat buggers out finally - Thanks notsunkyet - the brake fluid tip definitly helped. Tried to do it on the lower unit drain plug but didnt work, its completely stripped out now. Will be researching drilling and tapping later. Thanks everyone for the advice.

On the drilling and tapping , here in DFW the ACE hardware stores sell drillbit/tap combos! works great less guess work and you dont have to have a million taps and a size chart and helicoil set laying around. also dont forget use a sTAINLESS plug!