I know its gonna suck and have to be drilled and backed out. As of now im looking at getting this bit set:
(the bolt that snapped was the left side bolt)

http://www.lowes.com/pd_576748-281-1...=#BVRRWidgetID


Discuss-

 

Do you have room to get a screwdriver (or screwdriver bit) near it?

You might be able to tap a 'notch' into the bolt and use a flat head to screw it out, depends on how stuck it really is though. Def soak it in some penetrating oil regardless of how you do it.

 

Wow...1.3 miles! You got your workout.
If the starter is not connected/bolted up any more, there shouldn't be much holding that bolt in. Like RedLeader said, notch a groove or drill a small hole and easy out it

 

You have no idea. Im a "BIG MAN".

 

Dude..... You pushed 1.3 miles ???

I wouldn't walk 1.3 miles much less push !!!

 

Get the starter off the engine before you buy anything. Might be enough of the bolt sticking down to just lock a pair of vise grips onto it and turn it out. Soak it with PB blaster overnight. Clamp vise grips on as tight as you can, then hit the vise grips with a hammer to loosen, then thread it on out.

 

Theirs nothing sticking out.

sucks-

 

With no torque on the bolt ii should spin real easy. Try super gluing something to it and see if you can back it out.

 

At least as important as how to get it out is, the reason it "snapped off" in the first place.

Discuss.

 

cheap chinese bolt would be my guess, but a good question to add to the mix.

 

I was re tightening it down and I heard a click (then I was like o sh1). I started it up ine, then cut it off. Then on the next start all I heard was the starter spinning. I looked under the car and saw that same bolt laying on the ground.

 

I use left handed drill bits to remove broken bolts and it works almost all of the time. I have much better luck with them than those extractor bits. Start small and work your way up skipping a few sizes each time. Eventually the bit will grab and back the broken bolt out of the hole. Since the bolt was installed recently it should come out fairly easily.

 

Thanks guy, would Lowe's and such those left handed bits? I don't realty use my drill.

 

I don't like the style of extractor in your first post. Some of them tend to expand the bolt outward making things worse. Reverse drill bit should help. It also helps to use a center punch to start the bit. Use oil, keep it centered and let the bit do the work. Lowe's should have inventory on their website.

Notching it should also work but another option (if you weld) is to tag a nut onto the end. There are even more options, but those are the ones I've seen work most often.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/13-piec...ck-to-top-link

 

Those will work fine. Like scorpner said, use a punch to mark center and take your time, it will come out. Oil is hard to use upside down but do what you can.

 

Oh, good point on the oil. Assembly lube might help. It's like a sticky gel and helps contain the shavings as well.

 

I do have some assembly lube. Good stuff.

-keep'em coming guys, I plan on getting it done this weekend.

 

I would say that one of these reasons would cause the bolts to break.

1. Loose bolts.
2. Wrong bolts. I was always under the impression that starter bolts were kind of a funky configuration; knurled shank, over sized shank (compared to HW store bolts).
3. Cheap, soft bolts.
4. Incorrect starter drive to ring gear clearance. (?)
5. FUBAR threads in the block.

 

 

Hm, I've never seen one break so close to the end of the threads like that.

 

Wow, me either. How far into the block is the broken piece? You might be able to abandon the broken piece if you can get it out and just use a slight shorter bolt if you have enough threads in the block to secure the starter...IDK. Hmmm?

 

Unless that broke and stripped the block, causing the bolt to back out completely, how would you even have known it was broken?

That's at least 3/4 thread engagement in the block...

 

I heard ducks flying over head, and then stuff hitting the car...
(As I lay under it)

 

At least they missed the door handle.

I would run a tap through the bolt holes and maybe get a new set of bolts after you get the piece out. At a minimum check that the bolts thread in as they should with the starter removed. It might be me, but the bolts look like they could be slightly galled (and dirty) which would explain the difficulty you're having.

 

I got it out.

1/4 left hand bit only

 

Good job. Now go find the correct STARTER bolts (with the knurled shanks).

 

Btw I have a min-min starter with an odd mounting block. Actual bolt sizes are different-

I just bolted it back up, turned the key a few times and its holding.

 

I'm with Paulo on this one. You need the RIGHT bolts. Stuff in the aisle at Lowes is likely to leave you stranded again someday. Call the starter mfr. and get the right bolts for it.

The knurling on the bolts is only HALF the story! That knurned part goes HALF in the block and HALF sticking out to locate the starter, sort of like a dowel would. That means that the threads don't start in the block until about 3/8" into the starter bolt hole!

It's SO easy to fool yourself that you have "enough" thread engagement.

This is the RIGHT amount for the bolt to stick through the starter:



And this is the WRONG amount for the bolt to stick through the starter:

 

Guys, I fixed it.


-Also, those other bolts CAME with the starter. My new left side bolt is longer, and the right side is now the correct size, Both stainless steel of course.

 

. Glad to hear that!!