help - rounded off allen bolt.

I've just been tinkering with the bike - and managed to round off the inside of a small allen bolt.

I've tried hammering in a allen head the next size up - and also one of those star shaped shingies (torx or something?) Anyway that didn't get me anywhere.

So what the best way to get it off. I was thinking of buying a dremmel anyway, so if i get one of those could i cut a notch in the head and use a flat head screwdriver to get it out?

Or should i just gaffa tape it all back together and ride it round to my local bike spannerman to fix it.

I'm such a tw*t. Everytime i try and do something myself i have to ride it round to friendly spannerman and get him to fix all the bits i've broken.

I'd try the flat-head idea. Is it a bolt that's seized, or a chesium bolt?

Matt

just a soft bolt i think - that and i was working at a funny angle and probably didn't have the allen key in the bolt properly

[yorkie_chris]

Most importantly, what bolt is it?

it nothing too important - it just a little thing that holds the exup valve cover onto the exhaust can. (its a fz1 fazer)

Originally Posted by New Leaf

I'm such a tw*t. Everytime i try and do something myself i have to ride it round to friendly spannerman and get him to fix all the bits i've broken.

you sound exactly like me, except i just bug the forum for a solution! then when i hash that up i go to a mechanic lol

[_Stretchie_]

Don't forget to attack it with some penetrating oil first

; )

Originally Posted by New Leaf

I'm such a tw*t.

Originally Posted by arcdef

you sound exactly like me,

haha - takes one to know one huh!

[yorkie_chris]

Ah ok. Bolts in exhaust systems are always a git. What does it go into? I.e is it a blind hole or could you drill all the way through it?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Ah ok. Bolts in exhaust systems are always a git. What does it go into? I.e is it a blind hole or could you drill all the way through it?

Its not a blind hole. The bolt goes though the thin aluminium cover that its there to bolt on, and and is secured by a nut at the back. I think the nut is welded in place. ( i don't mean seized - literally welded in place so that it will stay there even when the nut is off.)

I really don't think the bolt is seized. The one nearer the ground that will get all the wet salty road crud came off okay. I think i just broke it by not having the allen key fully into the bolt.