Bill Ball

I managed to strip one of the front seat frame rail Allens. Not much room to do much. Can't get a Vice-Grip on the outside as the Allens are recessed inside the rail. Tried to use a fresh Allen wrench, jam a slightly larger one in. No success. I'm planning on drilling off the head, although it's going to be a chore the get the drill bit in there due to the angle and chair obstructing. Any other ideas??

lorenolson888

Hi Bill,

Any way to get the seat off the rail and get at it from above... sounds like the seat is still in the way?

I am in Puerto Rico and will be returning As you all are on the fun ride.

Loren

Garth S

Take a small cold chisel (~1/4") and go at the top face of the allan head at a 45 deg angle or so until a small groove is cut [ a dremel cut-off is better, but I doubt there is room to slot the head]. Keep tapping with the hammer at a counterclockwise angle until it loosens .... or you get so pi$$ed off that you really smack it .

That worked for me the other day getting the fan pulley off a 911 - the latter technique was the coupe de grace

Mrmerlin

Hi Bill if the chisel wont work just drill off the head get a vacuum cleaner and have it next to the bolt head while you drill this will keep unnecessary metal from rusting your floor, after the bolt head is off the nut plate will fall out from under the seat rail, Goodluck, Stan

aggravation

And if all else fails....hold the tip of a plasma cutter directly over the head and give it a short zap, melting the head and hopefully not much else.

jon928se

If all the above fails - i favour the cold chisel route personaly - somehow moehow clamp a nut of s similar size to the top of the allen head, then with your Mig welder fill the allen socket and threads of the nut - then use a very thin socket to undo the nut. after the heat from welding it will likely come undone with fingers but this invariably results in burned finger! LOL

Or - drill through the side of the head of the allen bolt (aka cap screw) they are quite soft - this should release enough pressure to enable you to drift the screw round a bit and then drill through again at 90 degrees - this should be enough to remove the rest of the head with a chisel. Once the seat is off the remains should unscrew with mole grips.

Good luck

Scarfinger

worf928

... and will help keep metal bits from getting all over the interior of your car.

I've used exactly this method on stuck seat bolts. More pieces of advice to add:

- get some ear plugs. (Drill + Vacuum + Car Interior == Loud)
- get a GOOD bit.
- protect the interior vicinity around the bolt - A couple layers of old towels, etc.

You can get a Dremel cut-off wheel to the bolts, cut a groove into the head, and then.... nothing.... BTDT. Had to bite the bullet drill the remains of the head off the phooking thing.

AO

This is one of my nightmares... I can't remember, but is there enough room to get a regular bolt with a socket in place of those allen head bolts? I suppose you'd have to make sure it's of the same grade material to ensure proper crash worthiness, but if you could... sure would solve a lot of frustrations I think.

worf928

Nope.... Can't even get the washer to the hole between the inside edges of the rail without going in at an angle...

AO

That sucks... I kind of remember looking at this a couple of years ago and coming to the same conclusion, just couldn't recall it with clarity.

IcemanG17

Bill
Sounds like a good "Sunday at Bills" project.....Let me know if you need some help....

Alan

I like Dozmans solution if you can find one to fit - but if you must go at it with power tools - I'd vote for a Dremmel with a carbide tip and a flex drive - mnuch easier to handle in the limited space - cut yourself a slot for a honking big screwdriver bit. Maybe ease the initial movement with a bit of chisel help.

If you have loctite on the threads (mine from factory had RED) then heat is a good solution to loosen it before you start easing it out - heat gun carfully applied to the head or a large scale solering iron...

The front inboard one is the pits - I bet its that one!

Alan

Bill Ball

Plasma cutter...Mig welder... Hmmm... I was looking for some justification to buy those.

Brian: I want to get this done before the funride- I'm installing the new Recaro racing seats I just got. Looked like a slam dunk until the Allen would not budge.

Dozman: That looks like the tool. Need to find a local source. I see some on eBay. I would avoid EZ-Out, of course, but these look substantial.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SNAP-...ayphotohosting

Short of the Snap-On extractor, I will probably drill. The head is rather soft, hence, easy to strip. I do have left-hand bits, but I doubt it will make much difference as I will be drilling largely from the side.

Yes, Allan, it's the front one. And I have tried the ones on the other seat yet. I thought I had the Allen wrench seated, and maybe I did. These things mooch too easily.

Thanks for the ideas and support.

SharkSkin

Or just use a dremel to grind the head off altogether. Maybe 5 minutes effort with one of the blue grinding-stone type bits. +1 on the vac nozzle to keep cleanup to a minimum.

worf928

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