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Removing snapped Slimline tank badge screws?

Submitted by tom_steele on Thu, 02/08/2012
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Heavy Twins

Hi everyone,

finally got the holes for the tank badges exposed on my 650 ss tank only one stumbling block 2 of the holes have got the bolts still in them but snapped off.

anyone ever had the same problem and find a solution a little bit showing but cant get anything slim enough to fit in to grab the ends.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

Submitted by paul_webb on Thu, 02/08/2012

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I had the same problem many years ago and in the end I had to carefull drill them out and re-tap the threads (I stand corrected the size is 3BA not 2BA as my previous posting) I made up a drill guide because if you don'tyou will probably snap the drill as it will tend to wander and if that happens as it has to me, thena recourse is by spark erossion?? or having a new insert welded in the tank.

Good luk, Regards, Paul.

Submitted by david_cooper on Thu, 02/08/2012

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Are they too small for an 'easy out'? You drill a hole smaller than the bolt, insert the left-hand thread helical tool (like a tapered LH thread drill bit, or a very coarse tapered tap) and wind it out. The biggest challenge is making sure that the hole is central.

Submitted by martin_rowe on Fri, 03/08/2012

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I did exactly as Paul has suggested, drilled them out. 'Careful' is the operative word, and you may not be able to drill deep enough to remove all the broken screw before going through the end of the boss in the tank. If this happens, you will swear lots. Not that I would usually advocate a bodge, but if you do not feel confident doing this have you considered sticking the badges on with silicone? If you just put a bead around the edges you can remove them - if you ever need to - by carefully going round them with a flat blade to cut through the silicone. You can cut the heads off the appropriate fixing screws and stick them over the holes in the badge, and then nobody would ever know except you!

I hope nobody shoots me for this suggestion.

Submitted by tom_steele on Fri, 03/08/2012

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Hi everyone :) thanks for the replies,

nipped round to a friend of my uncles whos an engineer we came to the same conclusion as you Martin be alot safer and easier to silcone them on and cut the head of the 2 screws that are missing :) rather than risk puncturing the tank :)

Thanks a bunch,

Tom

Submitted by benjamin_gradler on Sat, 04/08/2012

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I filled my tank with water. Then I took a die grinder with a very small cutting wheel and cut a slot in the end of the snapped of screw so it would take a flat-blade screwdriver. Then I hit the area next to the screw with a propane torch and screwed my two snapped off badge screws right out no problem....

Submitted by john_shorter on Sat, 04/08/2012

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Well done Ben, I have slagged you a bit in the past, so, it is good to see a post giving practical advice. Keep it up! The only thing I might have done different, is to have sprayed the screws with WD 40, before applying heat ( I guess that this is available worldwide). John.

 


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