****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

[loopit]

I just went to remove the four screws on the foot on my engine (the ones that point directly towards the ground) and they ****in broke off about 1/4 inch from the screw head. (**** SALTWATER)<br /><br />Does anybody know if this motor is still any good? What are my options? It is a 73 Evinrude and seems to be in good condition except for the water pump. It starts runs for a while and cuts off because I believe it over heats. I was taking the foot off to take a look at the water pump and all screws broke.<br /><br />Somebody please help!<br /><br />Jeff

 

[ruel42]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Is the shaft of the bolt exposed? You may be able to grab the remaining part with vise grips to get it off. I would soak it first with PB Blaster to loosen the rust. Worst case you are going to have to drill and retap.

 

[12Footer]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

You can weld a head on them,if you have access to , and can use a welder. But Not Enough has the best advice, if you can grab the stud of the bolt with vise grips.

 

[loopit]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately I can't see the head of the bolt. The screws just go into the main area of the shaft and the other side (where the screw ends) is rounded off with nothing like a bolt exposed. <br /><br />So if the only way to get it off is to drill through the screws, do I need a special drill bit or will a regular Sears Craftsman do? How do I retap it when I'm ready to close it up? What kind of tool do I need for that?<br /><br />Please excuse me but I know nothing about this kind of stuff. <br /><br />Keff

 

[Hooty]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

I'd do a compression check and see if you've done any damage running it hot. Ya may have to pull the head(s) and see what the pistons & cylinder walls look like. If there o-k, press on.<br />I also think you should soak the rest of the bolts and nuts with Kroil before ya twisted the whole bunch of 'um off.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[ruel42]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

If you do drill it try to find a reverse drill bit. Sometimes you get lucky and the bit catches the bolt and pulls it out. If that doesn't happen then you will need an extractor to get the hollow bolt out. Sears should carry all of these things, but you may want to try NAPA and talk to the sales person because mechanics have this problem all the time. GOOD LUCK and drill straight down the middle!!

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

While soaking tap with a small ball peen hammer and punch lightly and repeatedly for a minute<br /> There is a method for getting them out without damage, but I need to see a good close up pic of what your dealing with................

 

[12Footer]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Is there any way you can post a pic of this?<br />I'm now under the impression they are small screws,(like a 1/4"?) and that there is some of the screw above the surface..If so, a dremel with a cutting disk makes a nifty straight screwdriver slot. Then you could use an impact driver and mucho rust-buster on them.

 

[gregs]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

what you need is a good quality drill bit that is smaller than the screws in question. take a center punch and tap each of them dead center so your drill bit wont move around. you'll also need what is called an easy out. it looks kinda like a coiled seashell. after using center punch put a little oil on the screw while drilling straight through the screw. go about 1/4 inch or more deep and then tap the easy out into screw with a hammer, just enough to get a good bite. i find that a cresent wrench on the head of the easy out works best. if this works you'll want to retap afterwards. the hardware store can tell you exactly which drillbit and easy out to use if you know the screw size. good luck and take your time. a easy project that we think we can do ourselves turns out this way about 90% of the time. thats why the professionals have all the money.

 

[rolmops]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Hello.<br />Been there and did it the wrong way.<br />You will find that the bolts are machine steel grade and the housing is aluminum.<br />You were right with your opinion of salt water.<br />What got me out of the woods is soaking in a salt and calcium solving acid and heating with a torch.and only then trying to loosen them with a vise grip.Just play a bit with the grip without using too much force, for you will just brake them somewhere else.After you are sure that you got most of the salt off,you can change to a penetrating oil and heat them up again. Play with the grip and get more penetrating oil in there and heat again after doing this a while they will usually come out.<br />Use drilling them out only as a last resort and "easy outs" tend to brake off in your drill hole.That's when you really are up that creek without a peddle.<br />I wish you more luck than I had.

 

[One-eyed fat man]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Use a LOT of Kroil and a lot of patience. Let the stuff soak in. "Left handed" drill bit are most helpful as if they "grab" they will often bring the screw out. A "normal" drill bit just tightens it further. The judicious use of heat is useful since aluminum expands more than steel. It is imperative to drill in the exact center of the remaing screw and straight.(Best to use a drill press or milling machine, but it can be done by hand if you are careful. Keep the drill slow and use plenty of lube.) If you run out of the steel screw into the aluminum you are screwed. Easy outs are to be avoided like the plague since they are harder than any drill bit you got. If you break one off you will need to find a good machine shop to straighten the mess out. (If you must use an "easy out", turn it with a tap wrench, any side load will break it for sure!) Quite likely that even when you get the screws out, you will find they brought a good portion of the aluminum with them, so be prepared to re-tap and "heli-coil" the holes.

 

[Nail Head]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Hey loopit. You said "Please excuse me but I know nothing about this kind of stuff".<br /><br />I am a retired machinist and will give you the best advice I can. The skills you need to do the job are learned over time and fine tuned with years of experience. If you try to drill the center of the screws and the bit runs out into the side of the casting hole, you might have to buy a new housing. Do not try to learn the hard way that you should have taken it to someone who knows about this kind of stuff. It may be a mite expensive, but it will be the best money you can spend and will probably cost less than paying someone to do it right after you can't do it.

 

[svangui1]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Hey Loopit, <br /><br />I agree with Nailhead, I spent 9 yrs as a machinist and 10 yrs as knitting machine mechanic. Some of the worst things I have seen is people thinking they can just drill straight with a hand drill. Easy outs work but are prone to breaking and are very, very hard to get out once broke off in something! I would try heat and soaking with something to break the corrosion that steel and aluminum create. If you do get them out yourself, when you put them back in coat the bolts with liquid graphite, that should stop the corrosion that is inherent with aluminum and steel. <br /><br />I think a machine shop or reputable marine mechanic would be a good bet around now. It may be cheaper in the long run.<br />

 

[Backlash]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Hey Loopit,<br />What One-Eyed Fat Man said is right on the money.....for an experienced wrench. It sounds as though the advice Nail Head has given is probably best for you....."I know nothing about this kind of stuff." It's really easy to break screws off, and often really difficult to get 'em out. Hope it works out for you. <br />Backlash

 

[loopit]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Thanks for all of your responses. After reading through your suggestions, I've decided to take it to someone who knows what they're doing.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures but there is a flat section that sticks out horizontally about 3" below where the screw head are.<br /><br />I have a few more questions:<br /><br />Is this piece that sticks out in the main frame (shaft) going to cause big problems to remove the old screws?<br /><br />Should I just go to a machine shop to have this done?<br /><br />What exactly do I need to have done? A punch and a tap?<br /><br />How much should something like this cost? I have a friend online who is a boat engine mechanic and he said he usually charges $5 a screw. Is this about right?<br /><br />How long will it take them to do this? 10 mins or 2 hours?<br /><br />Jeff

 

[G DANE]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Hi Jeff<br /><br />This is still the best way: <br /><br />posted February 22, 2002 01:32 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Franki - I have a good bullitprof way to get it out. Dont drill and cut, you will end up off center. Get in touch with a workshop that has TIG Welding. TIG weld a nut or end of another bolt in same size to the shank. The flame will not seek the aluminium but only the steel. The bolt expands from the redheat and when cold again, you can easily turn it out with a wrench. I done this 6 times now and all got out - no damage to threads. It is the best way i ever seen. A good MIG Welder can do it too !<br /><br />Suggest you go back and read the entire, "snapped bolt"<br /><br />--------------------<br />G DANE

 

[loopit]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

OK...I called some of the shops in town and most of them said they charge around $55/hour and couldn't give me any idea as to how long it would take. If it is something I could have done for less then $25 then I would do it but if it's going to cost more than that I'll do it myself.<br /><br />The motor is 30 years old and keeps cutting off. I am assuming it is because it over heats because the water pump is bad. I was already hesitant to put another $40 in it for the water pump, but now I need to pay more to have the screws removed.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the piece that is sticking out about 3" above the screws makes it impossible to be able to drill straight down with a drill.<br /><br />Does anybody have any ideas how to get these out since there's only 3" of room?<br /><br />Jeff

 

[fireman 757]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Does this engine run well? An impeller is probably only about 15 bucks and you'll have the lower unit off anyway. Pay the machine shop for their expertise. It will be well worth it. You need to re-read the machinist's advice because they were right on the money. You say it's not worth the money but have you priced used ones much less new ones? I haven't bought a used one yet that I didn't have to work on as soon as I got it. Why do you think they sold it? How much money can you get out of it right now in this shape? <br /><br />Welcome to the world of boating!!! Everyone wants everything cheap. There are a lot (if not most) of repairs that you can do yourself but I don't feel this is one you want to tackle. Price a lower unit and you will be in your machinist's parking lot tomorrow morning. Good luck and get back on the water!!!!!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

Take it to someone.. I had an 84 prelude that I was changing the thermostat on once. During a momentary lapse of judgement, I forgot the old "lefty loosey, righty tighty" and broke the bolt in the hole of the block.<br /><br />After a few swear words, I tried to cut a slot in the remainder, only to strip that off. I then tried the easy out. Let me tell you, I did not drill straight, as it was in an awkward position. And the easy out broke in the hole. My attempts to drill this out basically wore down my drill bits.<br /><br />I had my father in law look at it. He scratched his head and said I had a real mess on my hands.<br /><br />In the end I drilled another hole through the thermostat cover and was able to fit a small bolt through it. I just left the other stuff in there.<br /><br />With no experience doing this, your chances are low at getting these out..

 

[crab bait]

Re: ****in Screw Heads Broke Off!

haven't read thru everthin' so it mite have been said... sears sells scew extractor set.. it's a left hand drillbit & easy out all in one .. they work great . also heard that the best rust eater is oil of wintergreen by in a drug store