Snap! Oh cr**
#1
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So I just removed the rocker covers from my 1998 convertible to examine the tensioners and cure a few oil leaks. Former Jaguar specialist car dealer serviced from new, 115000 miles stamped right up to date by a local indy specialist. Uh huh, 5 bolts snapped off. Tightened up by King Kong himself. I discovered a fairly easy way to remove the offending bolts without too much trauma. Leave the rocker covers in place, gently re tighten the bolts which haven't snapped, then remove the bolt heads spacers and O rings from those that have. With the spacers out, there's plenty of room to center punch and drill the snapped threads with a 3mm drill, just 1 or 2 mm deep then hammer a small Torx into the hole, the threads unscrew quite easily as they're no longer under stress, use a small magnet to remove the swarf before removing the rocker covers.. I'm lucky as I have a motorcycle business which yielded plenty of the right kind of bolts for replacement. You have to punch the snapped bolts out of the spacers using a suitable drift, but if you've come this far, that shouldn't be a problem.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Jersey, Channel Islands
Posts: 4,172
Received 2,400 Likes
on
1,556 Posts
#3
#4
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You've had more bolts snap on this job than all the rest of the membership put together. ![EEK!](https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-182767/
A regular reported issue is oil leaks from cracked covers where the bolts have been overtightened. Once the tension is off the cracks close up and can be very difficult to spot.
Graham
![EEK!](https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-182767/
A regular reported issue is oil leaks from cracked covers where the bolts have been overtightened. Once the tension is off the cracks close up and can be very difficult to spot.
Graham
#5
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You've had more bolts snap on this job than all the rest of the membership put together. ![EEK!](https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-182767/
A regular reported issue is oil leaks from cracked covers where the bolts have been overtightened. Once the tension is off the cracks close up and can be very difficult to spot.
Graham
![EEK!](https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif)
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ailure-182767/
A regular reported issue is oil leaks from cracked covers where the bolts have been overtightened. Once the tension is off the cracks close up and can be very difficult to spot.
Graham
#6
#7
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
'the reason I never use stud extractors is because they have a nasty tendency for the tip to snap off'
You need to bin the cheap ones, (ebay, toolstation, etc.,) and buy a good make. The cheap ones are too hard , you need a bit of give in a stud extractor, I have a Dormer set that have never broken on me, they make dam good drills to.
You need to bin the cheap ones, (ebay, toolstation, etc.,) and buy a good make. The cheap ones are too hard , you need a bit of give in a stud extractor, I have a Dormer set that have never broken on me, they make dam good drills to.
Trending Topics
#8
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
'the reason I never use stud extractors is because they have a nasty tendency for the tip to snap off'
You need to bin the cheap ones, (ebay, toolstation, etc.,) and buy a good make. The cheap ones are too hard , you need a bit of give in a stud extractor, I have a Dormer set that have never broken on me, they make dam good drills to.
You need to bin the cheap ones, (ebay, toolstation, etc.,) and buy a good make. The cheap ones are too hard , you need a bit of give in a stud extractor, I have a Dormer set that have never broken on me, they make dam good drills to.
Why I recommend the Torx bits for this job is because the studs are generally not seized in, just overtightened (At least, all mine were) and the torx bit cuts into the stud, rather than expanding it. If stud extractors are working for you then that's the way to go (They are the correct tool after all) but I've had too many negative results which have left a hard plug in the stud leaving welding the only option.