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#1 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Oroville, CA ( northern California)
Posts: 466
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Alternator bolt...Snap!
A few months ago my alternator bolt on the bottom broke. Thank god it broke enough for me to use some vise grips. Then it snapped again a few weeks later. This time I had to tap it out. Then guess what it snapped again a few days later! This time it snapped fairly far inside. So I tryed to tap it out again and ... Snap! goes the tap inside the dam hole I drilled in the broken bolt!!! So in a hurry I made a make shift bracket so I could run it for a few weeks. Well that turned into a few months. So this weekend I pulled the manifold and drilled a new hole in the tap that was broken and I bought a new set of taps that where supposed to be stronger. Well over the past few months rain got in the hole and caused some rust... So while trying to tap out the bolt, I snapped the new tap inside the old tap hole!!! Now I am up sh!t creek as I cannot find a dam drill bit strong enough to go through the the newest broken tap. Any one recommend a special type of drill bit that will go through the tap?
And why the hell am I breaking these bolts? All pullies line up straight. I don't think I am over torq'n them..? Any ideas would surely help. Thanks Rich
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#2 |
A little east of nowhere
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: LaBroquerie,Manitoba Canada
Posts: 168
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
Man, it don't sound good. I really can't think of a easy fix. I would try an end-mill style cutter the correct size to be able to install a keensert thread after. If that size is even available. it seems that something is causing a flex or vibration in the alt. mount that is breaking the bolt. Maybe someone has a better idea?
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68 C10 250 4spd 69 C20 327 4spd 69 910 250 3spd 80 K10 350 4spd 76 C60 366 5spd school bus "THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN BREAK THAT SOMEONE CAN'T BE PAID TO REPAIR" |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: central pa
Posts: 1,525
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
A picture of your setup, Like the brackets and such would help. Sounds like you are missing the rear support bracket which keeps it from flexing.
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72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: st. louis area
Posts: 1,551
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
I had similair happen, second bolt was a grade 8. ended up drilling out the threads & installing a heli-coil. Im thinking I may have been running the belt to tight.
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75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered |
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#5 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Oroville, CA ( northern California)
Posts: 466
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
The bottom bolt connected to the manifold. I have these ½ inch thick spacers that I where between the manifold and the alternator bolt hole. I have it all apart right now and going to do more with it now that I have some time and the space too. But what does this rear support bracket look like??
Rich Edit: Piss on it. dam 56k crap! I cannot upload the image. If someone wants I will email it to them and they can upload it.
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#6 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Oroville, CA ( northern California)
Posts: 466
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
The bottom bolt connected to the manifold. I have these ½ inch thick spacers that where between the manifold and the alternator bolt hole. I have it all apart right now and going to do more with it now that I have some time and the space too. But what does this rear support bracket look like??
Rich Edit: Piss on it. dam 56k crap! I cannot upload the image. If someone wants I will email it to them and they can upload it.
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#7 |
Cause the Chicks DIG IT!!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Beaufort SC
Posts: 509
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
Man i pity you. I had the same damn thing happen up front when swapping out a water pump. My tap broke off in there too. There is no drill bit on this earth that I could find that would take it out. What I ended up doing was getting a torch and heating up the bolt till it was nice and red, then we just pulled the trigger on the torch and the easy out popped right out.
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#8 |
Just hang'n around
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Camano Island WA
Posts: 248
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
Just switch manifolds and call it good. If you heat it with a torch you can easily warp it. Oh, what about carbide bits?
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Driving a '68 Chevy C20 and a '93 Astro Van. Lots and lots of mileage that I deduct each year. |
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#9 |
Msgt USAF Ret
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Posts: 8,714
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
I have had some luck with a center punch and a hammer being able to bust the broken tap into small pieces and working them out. If you can hit the tap with the center punch. It may require re-sharpening the punch a few times.
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VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative. |
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#10 |
DON'T TREAD ON ME
![]() Join Date: May 2005
Location: Crosby County, TX
Posts: 989
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
If none of the other options work an expert at welding might be able to get it out. They make welding rods that are specially designed to extract bolts broken off in holes. They work by welding to the tip of the broken bolt inside the hole and building the thing back up the surface where it's welded to a nut. Then you put a wrench on the nut and back it out. One of the special features of the rod is it doesn't weld itself to the inside of the hole.
I wouldn't have believed this was possible except I've seen it with my own two eyes. This happened on a piece of machinery at an asphalt plant when I broke off a grade 8 bolt. It's impossible to drill hardened bolts with ordinary drill bits and that's when the plant welders came to the rescue. I even saved one of the rods just so I could remember what kind they were.
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Old Yeller |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Beeville, Texas
Posts: 1,943
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
Old Yeller is right, those welding rods are awesome. If you lived near me I could fix that for you quick.
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RJD 1984 Chevrolet C30 welding truck 454/SM465 1977 GMC C15 pickup 350/TH350 1970 Chevrolet C20 pickup 350/TH400 1970 Chevrolet K20 Suburban 454/TH350 1969 GMC 8500 478M V6/5 spd winch truck |
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#12 | ||
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Oroville, CA ( northern California)
Posts: 466
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Re: Alternator bolt...Snap!
I did the center punch today and it broke it into enough peices to start drilling out the old bolt. Then my drill stopped working. So with that I say "screw it". I am going to sit on my ass the rest of the weekend and ponder a different manifold or taking it down to be welded out. Thanks for all the replys all
![]() Thanks again.
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