[HowTo] Get stripped bolts out

[livin2sk805]

Ok We have all had to deal with stripping allen head bolts befor and its no fun. SO heres what you do if your bolts are stripped or begining to strip and are stuck in your stem or whatever.

Tools:
Allen keys like these in both metric and standerd

or allen keys like this


Now say its a bolt in your stem that is stripped. Find the allen key that fits, now take it and go to the opposite set and get the next size up. So if its 6mm then get the metric size that is slighly bigger. Now use a rubber mallet or hammer to pound in that next size up, make sure its nice and tight. Now take out that stripped screw. I find its easier with the socket allen sets but it can be done with the other.

If this is in the wrond section please move it mods. Thanx and good luck with those stripped screws

If a bolt is seized enough to have been stripped in the first place, use a good penetrating oil (I know, kinky right?) first. I use an aerosol type called "freeze off" and it'll unstick ANYTHING. The stuff eats rust alive..... Give the bolt a good spray, let it sit for a minute or 2, THEN use the method described in this "how to" to remove it.

wd 40 works too, thanx sharp

[Wombles]

thank you so much for making this how to! ill get the other type of allen keys then ill get to takin the screw out... again THANK YOU!

[Korey]

Where is my thank you? Haha. I joke.

Good how-to. Helpful and quick and to the point.

[rait1]

cant u use search? im pretty sure i made a article about it

[the pwner]

haha "i joke" sweet thread

[jacklikesbikes]

yeah thats a good how-to

[Snitch]

Actually not trying to bash on your thread, its a really helpful hot-to but a much easier way to do this is with star keys. They are alot easier to get into the stripped allen bolt, most of the time really dont even require any hammering and also have a lot better chance of not stripping the bolt out again. Im a mechanic for a living and have to do this at least a few times a week and have learned it a far more superior way of doing it. Works on bolts that have upwards of 60-70+ ft lbs of torgue on them. i know it will work on anything a bolt on a bike can throw at it.

[Korey]

Actually not trying to bash on your thread, its a really helpful hot-to but a much easier way to do this is with star keys. They are alot easier to get into the stripped allen bolt, most of the time really dont even require any hammering and also have a lot better chance of not stripping the bolt out again. Im a mechanic for a living and have to do this at least a few times a week and have learned it a far more superior way of doing it. Works on bolts that have upwards of 60-70+ ft lbs of torgue on them. i know it will work on anything a bolt on a bike can throw at it.

You mean torx right? I agree, they are better then allen key bolts.

[Snitch]

Correct torx is what im referring to but most ppl dont know what they are, thats why i called them star keys

[RideBmx92]

picture would help? for the so called star keys
is there 7mm allen key?