Stripped button head allen screws… Sheesh! (1 Viewer)

[BIC JET]

Hey gents, I had a FrontRunner rack installed by a well known installer. When they assembled the rack they stripped the aformentioned button head screw heads. There are some pics below but the nain reason this is an issue is that the FR rack will not allow any attachments unless you remove the cormers and then the main mount I want is for my Ham antenna. The mounting bracket for the antenna requires that one of these button heads be tightened down on the mount underneath the cross slat. These button head screws are strripped. Who has a great idea for getting these loose?

 

[DallasTide]

Looks like you could get ahold of those pretty easily with some screw extraction pliers if you have the access. I really like the knipex twin grips and the vampliers/engineers.

 

[tbisaacs]

If you have a dremel or small cut off wheel you can slit enough to get a flat head in it.

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

Is the well known installer local and still in business? If so, before doing anything I would stop by and ask them WTF??

 

[DallasTide]

Is the well known installer local and still in business? If so, before doing anything I would stop by and ask them WTF??

Does it rhyme with Shmour Shmeel Shmarts?

 

[tbisaacs]

You might be able to hammer a star bit in as well.

 

[BIC JET]

Does it rhyme with Shmour Shmeel Shmarts?

Not local, still in business. I’ll call and see if I can get them to send me some screws and try the Travis trick.

 

[c4xplsv]

Buy a reverse tap set - carefully drill the middle of the screw with a smaller bit than the bolt shaft. That will get some depth so you can extract.

Had this happen with a rock warrior wheel ring years ago…

 

[UPR LC]

Try a "screw extractor", basically a reverse drill bit. Possibly may need to drill out the bolt a bit. Should work better than grinding a slot.

 

[c4xplsv]

Believe this is what I bought when I had this issue.

https://www.harborfreight.com/screw-extractor-and-left-hand-drill-bit-combo-set-10-piece-63987.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12126402660&campaignid=12126402660&utm_content=150898465887&adsetid=150898465887&product=63987&store=391&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4dUdGBJQ6j2ekRyn_ugDeP6e&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhrWv64uyhgMVZgitBh3AyQOWEAQYBSABEgJo7fD_BwE

 

[MJernigan]

Buy an assortment of blunt ended eaze out or plug extractors and lightly hammer into the stripped Allen head. No need to drill. I’ve removed hundreds of Allen heads this way due to overzealous helpers. I’m a machinist with 15 years experience.

 

[LX4x4]

Get a 4 inch visegrip, squeeze it on as hard as you can.
and also find a torx bit that fit in. Turn both at the same time.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Any time I'm in this situation I use an oscillating multitool with a metal cutting blade to cut a slot for a flathead screwdriver. Depending on where that bolt is and what kind of room/access you have, you may need to get creative with other cutting means. Even the edge of a square file could be used to get the slot you need for a flathead.

 

[isthatalexus]

Yeah, I can sing you a song about stripped FrontRunner bolts of many sorts. My approach is now: locktite + hand-tight.

 

[daneo]

Cold chisel and an air hammer right on the edge to pound it counter clockwise.

Did you get it out yet? I bet we could all keep going a long time.

 

[tbisaacs]

We need an update John!

 

[BIC JET]

Buy an assortment of blunt ended eaze out or plug extractors and lightly hammer into the stripped Allen head. No need to drill. I’ve removed hundreds of Allen heads this way due to overzealous helpers. I’m a machinist with 15 years experience.

I have googled both iof those names and cannot find anything. Will you send me a pic of the tool or a url where I can get some please?

 

[BIC JET]

We need an update John!

No update yet, hopefully this weekend I’ll be able to knock it out.

 

[MJernigan]

I have googled both iof those names and cannot find anything. Will you send me a pic of the tool or a url where I can get some please?

https://www.harborfreight.com/screw-extractor-and-left-hand-drill-bit-combo-set-10-piece-63987.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12126402660&campaignid=12126402660&utm_content=150898465887&adsetid=150898465887&product=63987&store=289&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4dNDjmcc4RJLXfiav9IDgm9P&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI44P-jMW0hgMV5rZaBR3CWwNtEAQYASABEgLl7fD_BwE

This is a cheap set but should do the job for you. If the point of the extractor is preventing you from biting into the screw head take a grinder and remove the point until it fits snugly.