I am in the process of changing a cam at the moment. My problem is one of the bolts that hold the timing belt tensioner in place is rounded off. Too make it worse its the back one. What are my options?? can i drill it out. and at worse use a nut and bolt to fix it back up.??? Please help guys i really need to fix this soon. I havent driven this car properly yet as it was in limp mode when i got it.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - 09:21 pm, by: David Ward(Djwtoyota)
Hi Robbie, go to one of the better specialty tool shops and buy a correctly sized socket for removing damaged bolt heads (they are specially made to grab hold of a rounded head). Of course depends a lot on how badly it's damaged, otherwise some good engineers can weld to the head of the bolt and remove it for you if you can get the car to them. Have you tried WD 40 or equivalent soaked down the side of the thread for a few days? Otherwise you could try heating the bolt but that can be tricky if you don't know what you are doing.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 05:56 am, by: Robbie Rashleigh(2annoy)
I have soaked it with some wurth rust off but i have had no luck so far. I was thinking about heating it but i have nothing to heat it with at the moment. Its hard because that particular bolt is in a very confined space and getting any tool in there is difficult. the last person who worked on the car has rounded it off and its still very tight. Worst case is i will drill it. but if i can get something to heat it with ill try that
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 01:09 pm, by: David Ward(Djwtoyota)
But if you can't get a tool in there or a gas torch how are you going to drill it? I'd make drilling it out the very last resort and if you have to, get the correct Wurth splined easy out...do not use cheap knurled fluted easy outs. You'll only muck the whole thing up. Personally I'd recommend you use a professional to fix it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 04:59 pm, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
another cheap and nasty solution is to bash the next size smaller or even an imperial sized (look up some conversion charts and get the one closest to the size, i think those bolts are m10 or m12) and bash the sucker on there with a hammer.
maybe even put it on an extension if you need to. another option is vice grips. get some vice grips really tight on there and see if that'll turn/crack it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 06:18 pm, by: Robbie Rashleigh(2annoy)
I am going to try and compress it in the car tonight. If not. I have a little blowtorch here i can try. I can get to the bottom of the bolt through the top of the tensioner. So drilling it out wont be too hard. But i still dont want to do that. Thanks for the input guys will try get it done tonight. Cheers
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - 08:58 pm, by: Shane Haverkamp(Havabeer)
ok and when heating the bolt be aware your trying to heat the part that the bolt is screwed into, not the bolt it self.... your trying to expand it so it release's the bolt.
we do the same thing for removing press fit bearings/couplings and shafts at work.
another product i remember someone mentioning is actually a freeze spray you can by which you spray on bolts to shrink them.
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - 05:58 am, by: Robbie Rashleigh(2annoy)
Still no luck. heating it is not helping. the bolt head is stuffed. I think ill be able to compress the tensioner with a g clamp. Ill try and make something tonight that will hold the g clamp in place on the bottom of the tensioner. i almost had it doing it this way but the g clamp slipped off the tensioner at the bottom. If i can get this to work ill be very very happy haha
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - 06:47 pm, by: Aiden Cheese(Chillpen)
Use a dodgy brand socket, one you'd find in the $1 bin in K-mart, smaller than the original size by a smidge (for a 12mm use an 11mm or some imperial) and whack it on. Or file it so it's not round anymore and do the same.
Patience is the key with filing, also you probably only need to file 2 sides if you do it that way so some clamps can hold onto it and then you twist the clamps using your extender bar.
I've done this before, even once did this to a lock nut on a friends car because he lost the key. Although it's a fair bit easier without risk and lots of room to move.
Ok. So. I thought i would say with much relief that i have the timing belt on the car and the tensioner reset. I still couldnt get that bolt undone. Tried many things. Even purchased some special . I checked and double checked the belt is in the right spot. no way was i releasing that tensioner with the belt in the wrong spot. I would have lost it if i had. So hopefully when i get home tonight the car will be back together and running.
Previous
