Methods for loosening bolts, screws or screws with licked heads

The car has many parts that are connected to each other with screws, bolts and screws. Quite often, situations arise when the head of a bolt or slots on a screw or screw is licked off. Therefore, the question of how to unscrew a bolt or screw with lapped edges is relevant for many motorists.

Why are the faces of a screw, screw or bolt lick off

Licking is the grinding of the edges of a bolt or slot for a screwdriver on the head of a screw, screw or self-tapping screw. Both a master and a beginner can face such a problem. When licking the edges of the bolt, the key starts to slip on it and it is not possible to unscrew such an element. Screws and screws can damage the slots on the head, this also leads to turning the screwdriver and it is impossible to unscrew the damaged fasteners.

The reasons why the slots at the screw, screw or face at the bolt, nuts can come off:

• use of worn-out tools;
• improper use of a key or screwdriver;
• poor quality fastener.

If, while unscrewing the fasteners, the key or screwdriver slipped through, do not panic and you need to figure out the reason. Sometimes it is enough to change the screwdriver or the key to solve the problem immediately.

Licking is called erasing edges or a slot for a screwdriver

Ways to unscrew bolts, screws, screws with lapped edges

If in the usual way it was not possible to unscrew the fasteners whose edges were licked off, you can use one of several proven options.

Gas wrench

This method is used when loosening the bolts, since they have a head protruding from which you can grab. For this:

1. Clean the head of the bolt.
2. Lubricate the junction with kerosene or diesel fuel, a liquid like WD-40 helps well, and leave for 15–20 minutes.
3. Unscrew the bolt. Do it with a gas wrench. With its help, a great effort is created and it is possible to capture well even a round head.
   

   With a gas wrench, you can create a lot of effort and grab even a round head well

The disadvantage of this method is that it is not always possible to get close to the desired bolt with a gas wrench.

Slicing new faces

If the bolt is large, then with the help of a grinder, you can cut new faces on it. It is enough to make only 4 of them and unscrew the bolt using a smaller wrench. It is possible to cut new faces on the bolt with a file, but this is more difficult and takes longer. On the head of a screw or screw, you can make a cut using a hacksaw for metal or a grinder.

A deeper cut can be made on the head of a screw or screw for a screwdriver

Hammer and chisel or impact screwdriver

This option is more suitable for lapped nuts or large enough screws. The chisel rests on the head of the fastener and, striking it with a hammer, gradually turn the screw or nut. Small screws or screws can be removed with an impact screwdriver and hammer. After loosening the fastening, the work is done with an ordinary screwdriver.

An impact screwdriver can be used to loosen small or lapped screws

A tourniquet or piece of rubber

In this case, use a small part of a medical tourniquet or a piece of dense rubber. The selected material is placed on top of the head of the screw or screw, after which it is pressed with a screwdriver and gradually turned. The presence of rubber will help increase friction and solve the problem.

The harness is laid between the screwdriver and the head of the screw or screw

Extractor

An extractor is a special tool that is used to loosen screws, bolts or screws with lapped or broken heads.

Extractor - a tool for loosening screws, bolts or screws with lapped or broken heads

The order of its application:

1. Using a thin drill, a small hole is made in the head. In some cases, the extractor can simply be driven into the lapped screw slot.
2. An extractor of the required diameter is selected. Drive or screw it into the prepared hole. It depends on whether you are using a conventional tool or a screw tool.
3. Unscrew the bolt.
   

   The extractor is screwed into a damaged bolt, and then unscrewed with it

Video: unscrewing a licked screw with an extractor

How to unscrew a broken stud, bolt, screw

Conventional or left hand drill

On sale there are left-handed drills with counterclockwise rotation. They improve the centering of the tool and reduce the load on the drill, resulting in higher productivity and drilling accuracy. By inserting such a tool into a drill, you can unscrew a screw or screw with a licked head. If there is no left-handed drill, you can try to drill out the stuck fasteners using a regular one. In this case, you need to take a drill with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bolt or screw. It is necessary to act carefully so that you do not have to cut threads for new fasteners later.

The drill should have a smaller diameter than the problematic bolt

Клей

A nut of the corresponding diameter is fixed to the head of the problematic screw or screw using epoxy glue or glue called "cold welding". After the glue securely fixes it, turn the nut with a wrench and unscrew the screw or screw with it.

With the help of glue, the nut is fixed to the licked head, and then the screw is unscrewed with it

Сварка

If there is a welding machine nearby, then you can fix a new nut on the head of a bolt or screw by welding it. After that, it can be unscrewed immediately.

A new nut can be welded to the problematic bolt or screw.

Solder and soldering iron

If you need to unscrew a small screw or screw, use a soldering iron and solder:

1. The heated solder drips onto the head of the fastener with lapped edges.
2. While the tin is not frozen, insert a screwdriver into it and wait a few minutes.
   

   Heated solder is dripped into the slots of the screw and a screwdriver is inserted
3. Unscrew the problem screw and clean the tip of the screwdriver from the solder.

Video: ways to unscrew a bolt with licked edges

How to EASILY unscrew a torn bolt. Edges CLOSED. FAST Ways (WITHOUT Welding).

How to prevent edges from ripping off

So that a problem such as torn off edges of a bolt or splines of a screw, a screw does not catch you by surprise, you must adhere to simple rules:

• you need to buy only high-quality fasteners that have high strength and reliability;
• when tightening and unscrewing screws or screws, the screwdriver must not be allowed to slip in the slots. This leads to their erasure and it will be difficult to unscrew such fasteners;
• you should always monitor the condition of the instrument. If the screwdriver or wrench has lapped edges, then with their help it will be difficult to unscrew the screw, bolt or screw.

It is much easier to prevent the edges from licking on bolts, screws and screws than to unscrew the damaged fasteners later.

Do not panic when a problem such as a licked bolt head or slots on the head of a screw or screw appears. There are many ways to solve it. It is necessary to adequately assess the situation that has arisen, and choose one of the available options.