Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix a broken bolt on the skid rail for my hi-fax? I broke the head off of the bolt that holds the hi-fax on, then drilled it out and broke the bolt extractor off inside the bolt. I'm pulling my hair out as of what to do next. Can I just drill a new hole in the hi-fax, below the old one and countersink a self taping screw into the aluminum rail or should I try to have a shop take out the old bolt and extractor and put a new bolt back in the factory hole? Any help is great appreciated. Thanks for you time. Think snow!!
Broken bolt @#*! What's next?
- Thread starter cappel
- Start date
Ya, there isn't a magical hole that the hifax has to hold on to. Just drill a hole close by.
Should I drill a new hole and tap it or can I use a self taping screw?
I have used pop rivits, a self tapping screw will work as well.
is the bolt broke above the rail but below the slider ?
The bolt is broken just below the surface of the rail. I moved the hi-fax out of the way to see if I could get at the bolt with some vise grips but it's a no go. I drilled a whole all the way through the bolt and tried to extract it with a bolt extractor which broke off inside the bolt. So now the bolt and the extractor are all stuck in the rail. AGHHH!!
When you put the new bolt in, and on the other screw on the other slide rail. Try to use alot of anitsieze on the threads. Might save the headache latter on.....Good Luck
I use blue loctite on the screws. They can be tough if they've been in for a long time. A good fitting bit is important, a couple of shots with an impact driver will usually convince them to break loose. Like Zeb says, just drill and tap a new hole an inch away and redrill the hifax to suit. Extractors can be a bugger to get out as they are hardened steel.
before you redrill a new hole...find somebody with a mig welder, lay a nut on the rail(or hold it with plyers)that is a size or two bigger then the broken bolt(a 1/4 in. bolt use a 5/16 or 3/8 nut)..just take and weld the end of the bolt and slowly circle out till you fill the nut, let it cool for 15-20 seconds and wrench it out...if it breaks off do it again...the heat of welding will loosen the bolt and the weld wont stick to the aluminum ...then your sled will be good as new...
Excellent advice from all. Thank you. I have a mig welder at work. I think i'll try the welding nut advice. Maybe tonight.
Don't waste your time removing the bolt , just leave it and put in a new one 1" away. All gravy.
Well I tried about 7 nuts last night, of two different sizes and couldn't get any of them to stick to the bolt so I just put in another bolt. A self taping screw which didn't self tap at all. I had to drill a hole about two sizes smaller and screw in the bolt that wayl. What a pain in the ***! It seemed like the rail was super tough because the screw would not start "self taping" Anyway, it's all done now. Thanks for all your help!
I've started drilling them all the way threw and just putting a bolt/nut on them. No more stripped heads or broken screws for me.
