HALP! Messed up allen bolt.

[lantz_xvx]

Hey all,

I've got a Ryobi 3302 and I decided to switch out the standard blanket bars for the quick change bars. I did the first head with no problems, then came up against one allen bolt in the second unit's blanket assembly that had a rounded head. I tried everything I could to get it out, but probably made it worse. In trying to drill it out, the bit I was using broke (thanks for nothing, hardware store dude) and so now I have to drill through that AND the rest of the bolt head.

The hole is way bigger than it should be now, and anyone who's taken those bolts out know how tight of a fit it is; I don't have a wrench or pliers or a drill that really gets in there that well. I guess one option is just to put the blanket bars back on there and just ignore it forever, but I'm a little reluctant to do that because in trying to get in there more, I backed the tensioning bolts way out and I'm worried that my blanket tension will never be right again, even if the tension knob is tightened properly (the quick change bars replace those tensioning knobs in the first place, so I figured I wouldn't need 'em anyway).

No one at any hardware store around here knows jack about printing presses. Is there anyone here that would be able to give me some advice on how to get this mofo out?

Much thanks,
- Lantz

 

[Bill Borcicky]

If possible a picture would be great , to help you out.

 

[FFR428]

So the old bolt was completely drilled out? And now the bolt hole is bigger yes? A pic would be helpful. All the 3302's Ive run had a QC blankets so I'm not sure exactly which bolt you're talking about. However there is a thing called a time sert you can install. It's a threaded sleeve that self taps into the existing hole. And they come in all US and Metric sizes. Not sure if this would help depending on the space it's fitting in. But they are great. I've used them in cast iron and aluminum. Much better than a helicoil. http://www.timesert.com/

 

[FFR428]

BTW next time your in this situation get a set of Easy Outs aka Screw extraction set. You drill a small pilot hole in the broken screw then use the easy out to remove the broken screw. A proper fix~!

 

[FSA]

Heli-coil the hole

 

[Fear250r]

BTW next time your in this situation get a set of Easy Outs aka Screw extraction set. You drill a small pilot hole in the broken screw then use the easy out to remove the broken screw. A proper fix~!

I was going to say the same thing. EZ out right off that bat. The only drilling you should be doing is to get the EZ out in there.

 

[lantz_xvx]

Here's a photo, although the bolt probably looks worse than this now. The bolt I'm talking about is the 5mm allen bolt that holds in the blanket bar assembly. If you've already got quick change blankets, you've never seen these. Otherwise, you'll know what I'm talking about.

In hindsight, we tried all sorts of dumb crap to get this thing out when we should have just gotten a bit extractor first thing. We've tried the advice of many hardware store folks and nothing has worked. The fit is too tight for needle-nose vice grips, using epoxy and a sacrificed allen key didn't work, tried to chisel notches into the bolt to put a screwdriver in there and turn it, that didn't work either.

I just bought a drill bit that's supposed to be able to drill through hardened steel, masonry, and other things. It's not working - it feels like I've made no progress.

I don't think I need to helicoil the hole, the threads are probably fine, it's the head that was rounded out and because all sorts of stuff broke off in there now, I probably haven't even been able to drill deep enough to damage the threads.

This has gone long enough, I have to get this f****r out.

Thanks,
- Lantz

 

[lantz_xvx]

Also, the picture added upside down, for some reason.

 

[Bill Borcicky]

I would suggest three different attempts, the first would be to purchase angled vice grips Small - medium size. they are bent at a slight 45 and easier to use in tight spaces. secondly if the first attempt fails, grab a dremmel with a cutter wheel****** NOTE ***** do NOT cut the top off the allen bolt !!!! take the dremmel and cut a slit into it slightly ( this is to create a place to insert a flat screwdriver. ) make sure the screwdriver you use has a wide enough head to stick out both sides of the bolt just a little, otherwise you will strip it out again and defeat the purpose. Thirdly, if the prior two attempts fail, find you a center punch ( a chizel with a point ) . place the punch on the side of the bolt and tap into the bolt lightly creating a little pit. now angle the punch so when you tap on it ,it should move the bolt in a direction to loosen the bolt just as if you were turning the bolt with an allen wrench.

note about drilling metal...the smaller the drillbit the faster the speed to drill, also use light preasure with smaller bits. easyouts work for most applications but not all. and be patient, if you use easyout !

 

[Bill Borcicky]

I did mean to let you know, once you have the allen bolt out, if you want to fix the little gap on the cylinder, you just sand smooth and patch with either bondo or any kind of metal filler. sand smooth and you'll be as good as new !

 

[Fear250r]

Here's a little trick that's helped me numerous amounts of times on bolts from the press to the truck.

If it's being a real PITA and doesn't want to break free, try tightening it first. The head is almost always in good shape to be able to tighten it and sometimes this is all it needs to break the seal so to speak, then loosening it should be a breeze!

 

[ziggy33]

Here's a little trick that's helped me numerous amounts of times on bolts from the press to the truck.

If it's being a real PITA and doesn't want to break free, try tightening it first. The head is almost always in good shape to be able to tighten it and sometimes this is all it needs to break the seal so to speak, then loosening it should be a breeze!

or you end up snapping the bolt off haha happens to me all the time when doing this trick

 

[Fear250r]

or you end up snapping the bolt off haha happens to me all the time when doing this trick

Patience Daniel Son....be very careful when using this method.

 

[ziggy33]

as my boss would say i have vise grip hands so yea my hand tighten requires pliers for most others haha

 

[ghuerth]

Hey all,

I've got a Ryobi 3302 and I decided to switch out the standard blanket bars for the quick change bars. I did the first head with no problems, then came up against one allen bolt in the second unit's blanket assembly that had a rounded head. I tried everything I could to get it out, but probably made it worse. In trying to drill it out, the bit I was using broke (thanks for nothing, hardware store dude) and so now I have to drill through that AND the rest of the bolt head.

The hole is way bigger than it should be now, and anyone who's taken those bolts out know how tight of a fit it is; I don't have a wrench or pliers or a drill that really gets in there that well. I guess one option is just to put the blanket bars back on there and just ignore it forever, but I'm a little reluctant to do that because in trying to get in there more, I backed the tensioning bolts way out and I'm worried that my blanket tension will never be right again, even if the tension knob is tightened properly (the quick change bars replace those tensioning knobs in the first place, so I figured I wouldn't need 'em anyway).

No one at any hardware store around here knows jack about printing presses. Is there anyone here that would be able to give me some advice on how to get this mofo out?

Much thanks,
- Lantz

Hey Lantz,
I have repaired several blanket cylinders on ABDick duplicators. After breaking a drill off in the screw you are pretty much out of luck for an extraction; expensive drill bits cobalt and diamond bits tend to not drill straight on small screws with broken bits. If cylinder removal is an option Jerry's Tap and Drill removal in Santa Ana, CA dissolves screw and drill without damage to parts. Allen screws are generally hardened metal that tend to break standard drill bits. When cylinder removal is not an option due to expense or no experience, I recommend using E-Z LOK thread repair inserts which drill out larger hole, then tap threads into cylinders larger hole, screw in insert containing original thread size with an epoxy coating on outside threads, let dry 24 hours and you have original size threads in insert for blanket screw.
E-Z LOK
240 E. Rosecrans Ave.
Gardena, CA 90248
(800) 234-5613