M Power engine cover plate

[alanandjudi]

Just been trying to remove the coverplate and found one of the 5mm alloy headed bolts is located very tight and slightly burred inside. I darnt try any harder to remove it as I think i will make more of a mess of the bolt. Currently soaking it in WD40, any ideas on how to shift it, dont want to make a mess of it or I will finish up having to drill the head of and then it will be a right job to extract the rest of the bolt.
Was also wondering if its best to try when the engine is hot or cold.
thanx alan

[Althulas]

Can you get one of those sockets which grips on the flats of the nut?

[siwilson]

An impact driver works wonders on risky hex-head or cross-head bolts/screws. Just be careful how much welly you give it.


This or similar - http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=20766

It has a 1.2" drive that you can use to drive a hex-key socket.

[estocks]

Dose of Plusgas.

[///M Breadvan]

Assuming they are Hex socket alen key bolts........hammer in a imperial allen key (slightly too big for hole) into the keyway and use that to turn. You may wreck your allen key but very cheap to replace. HJust buy a new bolt and replace.

[alanandjudi]

Hi Guys thanks for all the usefull suggestions, think I will try a combination of these starting with the impact driver and then progressing to the oversize imperial hex key. Fortunately no rush to get in there, its a while before car needs a service, so plenty of penetrating oil will be going on in the meantime. Any ideas on whether it will be a good idea to try when engine is hot. cheers alan

[Deano1712]

You cant beat a bit of heat with a tight fastener. You may have some bi-metallic corrosion so plenty of lube oil and then some heat should help. I would use a small flame onto the head of the fastener and then leave it for a few minutes. The head is ally and has mush higher thermal expansion coefficient than the steel fastener, so the thread will tend to relax when hot.