Gawd I hate stripped SS muffler bolts!!

[alexcagle]

You know what really grinds my gears?
Some "anus" put 316 stainless screws in the muffler of this Dolmar, and then the heads got stripped out.
I sharpen my own drill bits, thankfully.

This pile of drill bits are dull now after spending 30+ minutes trying to drill the heads off the screws. Finally a good wack with a hammer finished the job!

A regular steel screw takes about a minute for a good sharp bit.
Good Lord.......

 

[Deleted member 149229]

But they weren’t rusty!

 

[alexcagle]

Actually, they were, some.....
If you put regular rusty steel next to stainless, it will corrode.
I learned not to mix stainless wire knot wheels with ones used on regular steel. They'll rust by contamination.

 

[blades]

trick to drill stainless is slooooow and that still can be too fast. least little bit of friction heat and it gets rock hard at the cutting surface. Then you have to try and break back though that again and again. for those bolts a carbide drill would be a better choice still very slow rotation and lots of lubricant/ cooling

 

[smokey7]

I have my air drill and a inline regulator i use to control the speed better. Low speed heavy pressure with cobalt or better yet carbide. You got it tho good job.

 

[ironman_gq]

Carbide ball burr in the die grinder, cheap, fast, easy. Heads pop right off

 

[pioneerguy600]

You know what really grinds my gears?
Some "anus" put 316 stainless screws in the muffler of this Dolmar, and then the heads got stripped out.
I sharpen my own drill bits, thankfully.
View attachment 641765
This pile of drill bits are dull now after spending 30+ minutes trying to drill the heads off the screws. Finally a good wack with a hammer finished the job!

A regular steel screw takes about a minute for a good sharp bit.
Good Lord.......

Do you have a mig welder?

 

[alexcagle]

Do you have a mig welder?

Yes, but a cheapie.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Yes, but a cheapie.

I would likely weld a nut to the head of any fastener found on a chainsaw. I have welded nuts on dozens of stripped fastener heads and then enabled me to remove that fastener without any cutting or drilling.

 

[46 Poulan]

trick to drill stainless is slooooow and that still can be too fast. least little bit of friction heat and it gets rock hard at the cutting surface. Then you have to try and break back though that again and again. for those bolts a carbide drill would be a better choice still very slow rotation and lots of lubricant/ cooling

Really -- a little overheat at tip creates a hardface of bolt-tried to explain this to new mechanics-young at my shop--most are learning the hard way-will not listen to the old timers.lol

 

[Canyon Angler]

I would likely weld a nut to the head of any fastener found on a chainsaw. I have welded nuts on dozens of stripped fastener heads and then enabled me to remove that fastener without any cutting or drilling.

Plus the heat of welding makes the fastener expand and crush the rust/corrosion/whatever between the fastener threads and the female threads...so that even if you can't get it out while it's hot (best bet), by the time the fastener cools, you might have bought enough clearance to get it out...

 

[alexcagle]

I would likely weld a nut to the head of any fastener found on a chainsaw. I have welded nuts on dozens of stripped fastener heads and then enabled me to remove that fastener without any cutting or drilling.

That's good, but the bolt is about 3" recessed in the muffler....
How do you weld in a hole?

 

[pioneerguy600]

That's good, but the bolt is about 3" recessed in the muffler....
How do you weld in a hole?

Maybe an inch and a half but 3" would be too difficult. The muffler would be getting cut open for access if it were me .

 

[Justsaws]

Take some aluminum tape and put it over the end of the torx or Allen and then hammer wack it in to the stripped out head.

If you have a pencil torch heat up the cylinder by the threads a bit and then try removing. Might take a bit of layering the foil or metal tape before enough is in to bind. Sometimes have to use a smaller torx or Allen.

If you have access to stainless tape it works well.

 

[spyder62]

Not sure about stainless, but for hardened steel like a broken off drill bit or easy out. I found the dremel chain saw chain sharpening stones work prett darn good.