BUSTED STARTER BOLT

[jch7450]

Heres a new one. i broke a starter bolt on my gmc engine ( while tighting it up) NOT COMING OUT.<br />I friend of mine told me there is great epoxy glue out that will allow me to remove the old bolt after the epoxy cures by useing the part of the bolt that broke off, because it should not be to tight because it broke off going in and not bottomed out. Hmmmmmm sounds like a plan,but wonder if anyone has tried it?

 

[bomar76]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

Get that plan out of your head.<br /><br />It's not gonna work.<br /><br />Take the remaining bolts out, remove starter, grab what's left of the broken bolt with vise grips and remove it.<br /><br />If you managed to snap it off flush with the block.....drill and extractor time.

 

[jch7450]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

Yea, bomar i thought the same thing however this guy says he takeit out for a 100 bucks...Hell can't hurt no bolt, no pay! but he says he's done several times ......

 

[bomar76]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

Be sure to have a camera on hand to document him blowing around in the wind while he attempts this.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

If there is enough of the broken bolt left, thread a nut onto it then spot weld the nut on. Use a wrench and remove the bolt.<br />I've done this with a lot of intakes and valve covers as well as other things, it usually works.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

The broken bolt is recessed below the surface,usually.This is because the threads start 3/16 or 1/4 below the surface.Drilling is difficult,because if the hole ends out off center,your engine will forever 'eat' starters because of alignment problems.I'd like to hear more about the epoxy/glue methods,even tho I have doubts.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

I just did the job you mention. pulled the motor,turned it over in a stand, drilled a pilot hole and used a STRAIGHT SHANK easy out.Like the previous post, is the new threads are off center youll eat starters or the ring gear.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

If there is enough of the broken bolt left, thread a nut onto it then spot weld the nut on. Use a wrench and remove the bolt.

That's the method I use and it almost always works. You really dont even have to have much, if any, stud remaining. Just use your mig welder and weld through the hole in the nut onto the remaining bolt. It also serves as a good heat source. Then spray it with some penetrating oil, (keeping a fire extinguisher handy ), and it will usually come out.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

If it is broke off below the surface then you will have to drill it and try to extract the bolt. Do what you can to make the broken surface flat with a grinder or dremmel tool if there is enough material to smooth out. Then center punch a hole in the center, drill a pilot hole, then drill a larger hole. Use a screw extractor to try to pull the old out. <br />If it isn't tight you may be able to cut a groove and use a flat screwdriver to turn it. Chances are before the bolt broke the threads stretched slightly putting tension on the bolt.<br />Try the epoxy trick if you can't do the welder thing. If it doesn't work you aren't out anything but time. Be careful you don't get epoxy in the threads though.

 

[CTD]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

If the bolt were loose enough the epoxy thing might work without removing the starter. If not they make left hand drill bits that sometimes will remove the broken bolt before you finish drilling the hole. If you can't get a drill under there can you get an angle drill under, it would be better to rent one than pull the engine.

 

[imported_Mike_M2]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

I've used an angle drill to drill it then use a screw extractor. Worked for me and kept the original threads in the block...

 

[Scaaty]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

If its anything like my GM starter, you will need some pretty tiny munchkins to even SEE the starter bolts!

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

Nobody has mentioned how one is suppose to get access to this broken bolt. The first thing that has to be done is the motor lifted up to gain access. Many times if its the inside bolt broken, you can drop the bellhousing and flywheel and the bolt will be sticking up thru the casting. You can grab then grab the bolt with needle nose pliers and screw it back out. This is only for the straight across pattern starters. If its the staggered bolt starter, you will need to drill.

 

[steve n carol]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

I am courious why it broke off in the first place, (if it didn't bottom out). Aren't these 2 vertical bolts different lenghts? someone help me with this...sl

 

[seahorse5]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

You didn't mention which engine you have, but the 3.0L 4-cylinder GM engines often break a starter bolt from not having a rear bracket fastened at the rear of the starter housing to the engine block. There was a recall to install that bracket some years back by both Merc and Volvo. It was a problem from engine vibration and the then new permanent magnet design starter.

 

[arboatdr]

Re: BUSTED STARTER BOLT

Most of the time drilling a small pilot hole with a left handed drill bit followed by a 1/4 left handed bit drilling slow will get the broken bolt out without pulling the motor. The quater inch bit should grab the bolt and act as an ease out. You must drill straight. An angle drill allows the most room. If it doesn't come out after a few seconds with the quater inch bit then use an ease out.Good luck