Broke valve cover bolt...help?

[waveoff]

I hate being so buff. Yeah right, anyway I got done adjusting my valves and I go to tighten up the valve cover bolts and one of the long ones snaps. I started to drill it out but I figured that I'll just wait till I get a new one from Honda to totally drill it out. Anyone have any better ideas on how to get the bastard out? Maybe tap the edge of the broken part with a center punch? I'm open to suggestions so please tell me what you guys have done to get broken studs out. Will it be OK to drive the car with one broken bolt? I'm pretty sure that the the gasket will keep the cover from leaking.

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Fred G.
'97 Civic EX supercharged http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/track/4059
Beech 1900D driver...2,558 shp, 10,000+ ft./lbs. tq., top speed 331 mph

[zip]

Home Depot sells "counter taps" to help take out broken bolts. I did the same thing on my previous Honda, I waited a week before getting to it but it worked its loose so I didn't have to use the counter tap.

[dragonballz]

Yup,

Go get a good set of counter taps and a t-handle chuck. You'll need to drill a hole on the broken bolt and then hammer the counter tap into the bolt. The tap will grab the walls of the drilled hole and allow you to back the screw out. Spray some liquid wrench on the bolt before you try this to reduce the friction. If worse comes to worse you'll have to drill it out.

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1992 Old School Si Hatch
1995 Civic DX Coupe w/ Turbo B18C

[Rboosted717]

Your car should be fine to drive. I did the same thing to my R. Very little if any oil came out, while it was missing. Just dont go on any long trips!

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Mike Marsey
'98 ITR #0717
Supercharged!

[plumvtec]

If part of the bolt is still exposed, then take a file and file it as flat as possible. Then take a hack saw and saw on the top in the middle of the bolt. You want to make a slot so you can take a screw driver and screw it out.

If the break is below the surface, then try to punch a guide hole for the drill bit to follow. If the bit dances around it may break. It is helpful to drill the hole as close to the center of the bolt as possible to aid extraction.

Once the proper hole has been drilled, lightly tap the extractor in the hole a few times to set it into the bolt. Then take either a "T" bar or if you are roughing it, a vise grip and slowly turn the extractor. Make sure it is catching (digging in) or you will have to go back and tap the extractor again to get it to take.

be patient.It should come out rather easily since you just had it out.

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'96 JR6 GSR Sedan (black currant pearl) FOR SALE !
'93 Honda CBR 900RR
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[waveoff]

Thanks for the quick replies and great ideas guys. I forgot to mention also that I broke one of the screws for the distributor cap. Luckily it's right on top and the bottom of the screw sticks out of the distributor. Thanks again.

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Fred G.
'97 Civic EX supercharged http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/track/4059
Beech 1900D driver...2,558 shp, 10,000+ ft./lbs. tq., top speed 331 mph

[JRCivic]

Arnold... I mean Fred: You should try being a bit "easier" on your motor... finesse it instead of dominating it. You will find that it is much more enjoyable.

Jim



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'93 Civic Si H/B with B18C1, JRSC @ 8psi
Best 1320: 12.68 at 110 mph

[gsrev]

ROFLMAO!! Okay everyone lets sing together: "macho.. macho .. man!"
Good luck!