Alan Key type Bolt stripped

[ZilaVanilla]

Hi guys need help removing this slipping Alan key bolt pictured.

It's on the oil filter housing (allows for drainage of oil before removing the oil filter housing). Its the Alan key hex type fitting.

What tool will grip this bolt to get it out?

Edited by ZilaVanilla on Thursday 22 May 17:28

[Drezza]

I'd probably cut a flat slot in it with an angle grinder or a dremel and use a large screw driver to either unscrew it or knock it anti-clockwise with a hammer.

Edit: unless you can get an oil filter removal tool round it, might be easier?

[s p a c e m a n]

Does it protrude from the inside of the cap, you might be able to grip it with something from that side?

That looks like a drill it until it's loose job to me.

How much is a new cap?

[barryrs]

Hammer in a torque bit would be my first choice.

[s p a c e m a n]

Oh st yeah it's the entire metal bit isn't it. Hammer a bigger bit in there.

[darreni]

From that pic its hard to tell what clearance you have, but knipex cobra pliers have saved the day for me a number of times:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KNIPEX-Pliers-Self-Lockin...

[ZilaVanilla]

Drezza said:

I'd probably cut a flat slot in it with an angle grinder or a dremel and use a large screw driver to either unscrew it or knock it anti-clockwise with a hammer.

Edit: unless you can get an oil filter removal tool round it, might be easier?

I was thinking about the oil removal tool method but the Alan key bolt will still be stuck in the housing if the oil filter housing comes off.

What about extraction using a drill bits?

[paul_c123]

I recently had to remove 6 of these (on a clutch pressure plate). 1 came off with the allen key tool. 4 of the others came off using either a torx bit, or a triple square bit, hammered into it (I got away without damaging any of my bits, and got them all out too). The last one needed a slot cut in it with a dremel, then the biggest flat bit hammered into it.

If its the oil filter housing and the hex is just for a drain, although it will be messy, can't you just use an oil filter strap/tool/whatever and take the whole thing off? I am assuming you're not going to refit the part with the rounded off bolt in it back to the car.

[ZilaVanilla]

s p a c e m a n said:

Does it protrude from the inside of the cap, you might be able to grip it with something from that side?

That looks like a drill it until it's loose job to me.

How much is a new cap?

New cap is 100, the Alan key bolt sits on another bolt so once this Alan key bolt is removed you use a socket to screw off the filter housing.

The Alan key bolt is slightly larger than the filter housing bolt it screws into. I don't think I could put a larger socket over this in the hope it grabs the housing filter bolt the Alan key bolt sits on top of? Even if it worked iv only screwd off the housing with the Alan key bolt still in it?


If I use the drill method what drill bit will grip this slipping bolt?

[ZilaVanilla]

barryrs said:

Hammer in a torque bit would be my first choice.

Tried hammering in a larger bit from my set just slipped, maybe if I get an extractor bit that will grip and hammer that in?

[TGCOTF-dewey]

You can use a hex key or a screw extractor... happens a lot mountain bikes.

https://amzn.eu/d/0iOxahX

Tip though, is heat it first... soldering iron can often do just the job...unless you've a mate with an induction heater.

BTW, it's Allen, not Alan.

[ZilaVanilla]

darreni said:

From that pic its hard to tell what clearance you have, but knipex cobra pliers have saved the day for me a number of times:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KNIPEX-Pliers-Self-Lockin...

Oh nice I will do some research on these. I have about 50cm clearance from the ground but can increase this using drive on ramps that go under the front wheels.

The plastic cover protection can also come off exposing the front part of the engine which will give a bit more room.


Although my intention was to find something that will fit into my Ratchet that will grip the most rounded off bolts?

Or even my cordless drill in reverse?

[ZilaVanilla]

s p a c e m a n said:

Oh st yeah it's the entire metal bit isn't it. Hammer a bigger bit in there.

Tried this but kept falling out.

[ZilaVanilla]

Guys before I start using pliers and grinders as suggested what about something like this?



https://amzn.eu/d/iGukh5e

https://amzn.eu/d/3kifXD8

[ZilaVanilla]

TGCOTF-dewey said:

You can use a hex key or a screw extractor... happens a lot mountain bikes.

https://amzn.eu/d/0iOxahX

Tip though, is heat it first... soldering iron can often do just the job...unless you've a mate with an induction heater.

BTW, it's Allen, not Alan.

Yeah sorry Allen.

Yes this was my hope using tools like this.

When you say hit it first do you mean heat the Allen key bolt? and a soldering iron will do this? What about heat gun?

[Athlon]

Either a: leave it and crack on, you might spill a bit of oil but nowt worse or b: tap a torx socket into it and undo it that way.

Me, I would just undo the filter housing and be prepared to catch the oil, same as 90% of filters .

[s p a c e m a n]

Yeah knippex grip good, they'll probably work. Or a pair of pipe grips if you can get them around it because they're made to grip round things.

[alabbasi]

larger torx bit and a hammer or cut a slot and use a screw driver. I'd be wondering why it stripped. Either crappy tools or an ape put it on. If it's the latter, I'd leave it well alone or replace the filter housing.

[S13_Alan]

It's a stupid design eh, my Santa Fe has a similar if not same design and that metal part doesn't need to come out, it's just to drain it.

I ended up using an impact gun and very tight fitting impact bit, then was able to get it ok, where it just started to cam out with a ratchet.

Assuming it's technically optional to remove like mine was and if everything else fails, can you not just trim the edges of the flat part of the bolt enough to let you get a big socket over it and undo the filter as normal? I was considering that if I was stuck, but access would have been really tight.... though doable with a Dremel.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

I'd drill and tap it 1/4" BSP and use a plug and dowty/bonded washer on it.