Rounded sump plug...

[Anson]

Hello,

I managed to "round" the head of my sump plug.
Any ideas to getting it out?

Thank you,

[agrid]

vice grips

[Shady7/8]

drill it :p

Got a Metrinch socket? might give you enough grip still
go a dremel? shave 2 sides flat again and get onto it with a shifting spanner

[shan]

Either a small stilson
Failing that get some one who has there shit together to use a chissel / center punch.

[Paraletic]

get a large nut and a welder, weld the nut (just around the inside of the thread), Boyakasha.
or yes if there is room, vice grips / multi grips / stillsons.
or, purchase a sutible 'Twist Grip' socket.

then again, if you want to make it hard for yourself... go for the 'easy out', Just for the challenge.

[AliastheJester]

Metrinch can be good for getting slightly rounded bolts out.

[Anson]

Cheers for the quick replies guys,

Have tried vice grips - no luck
Have tried stilsons - not enough room
Don't have any metrinch tools

Will give Shadows advice with dremel...
If that doesn't work them i guess will have to get a nut welded to it...

Thanks,

[Gonzo]

The first thing I would try is a smaller socket, possibly an imperial one, and see if you can tap it onto the plug.

The secret here is usually getting the right size socket.

Be gentle, don’t bash it.

Remember its only an alloy bike casing, not a Drag Line bucket. If it doesn’t look like it’s going to do it, STOP.

Once it’s on get the ratchet onto it and undo it.

I’ve done this heaps of times on rounded, rusted, worn nut bols and fittings and it works most times.

Don’t worry about splitting the socket, it’s a throw away.


But like I said, this is what I would do. If you don’t like the sound of this, or aren’t overly confident with the spanners don’t do it.

[jules_1972]

As already said, use a 6 sided socket with less amount of slop possible.
Should come out easy....

Tapping the head with a hammer will help as well.

[Anson]

The plug head takes a 12mm -

Have tryed 11mm - no luck, to small
Have tryed 7/16 - no luck, fits, but still rounds head.

Every other size is either to small, or to big...

Thanks again for your help,

[Pinkee]

well, looks pretty round to me... I would try shadows method first, then paras. if they fail, use a Big F***n Shotgun! and then buy a new engine!

[shan]

You can tap that arround easy, center punch

[Cbr1k]

You need and adjustable wrench that is reversible as a pipe spanner.

Toolmart has 'em

[darkfibre]

If a single hex socket slips, its time for a punch or chisel to drive it around, preferably by someone who has done it before, and understands the sump is aluminium.

[Desmo]

As has been stated, use a slightly smaller socket and knock it over the bolt.
This has never failed me.

[JAFA]

You can tap that around easy, centre punch

+1. I'd do it for you, but you're too far away.

[vbroom]

ive used an angle grinder to grind two flat sides. then chucked a spanner onto it.

[agrid]

That nut its fucked, ignore all the previous, buy some new vice grips and use them properly.

remember lefty loosey ... unless it's upside down

[Rosco327]

Remember seeing these somewhere but can't remember where now. I think they are called speed wrenches

70220_Speed_Wrench_application.jpg

The harder you pull the tighter it grabs. Might be worth looking in a few tools shops to see if you can find one

[Sparkychris]

Hey bud, Ive done this before too so dont feel alone haha! I filed 2 flat sides on the head and used an udjustable spanner on it. You need a course file tho. Like Agrid said, use vice grips. They always work