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HELP: Stripped Screw in Ice Tool

Original Post
Caz Drach · · C'Wood, UT · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 310

Hey there, 

Swapping picks, and a i stripped the bolt (allen hex) on my nomic and cannot for the life of me get it out. Its really on there. 

any tips?

-Z

Sunny-D · · SLC, Utah · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 700

Contact Petzl and see if you can get a new bolt… then carefully drill out the old one.  
You can also try carefully drilling slots into the old bold and use a large screw driver to remove it.
Soak the head in a lube to get it to loosen a bit.  

Paul Morrison · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 55

It's not clear from your description what you mean by "stripped." Do you mean the hex socket in the head? If you do, and if you've been using a ball-end hex key or a worn hex key, try grinding the end of the tool to improve its contact with the socket in the bolt head. You'll have better luck with a ratchet or breaker bar with a hex bit than you will with a common bent key.

If that fails, buy a left-hand drill bit, run your drill motor in reverse, and bore it out.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,687

Depending how buggered-up the hex head is, it might be easier to drill the bolt out from the nut side.

Paul Morrison · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 55
Gunkiemike wrote:

Depending how buggered-up the hex head is, it might be easier to drill the bolt out from the nut side.

That depends on what part of the procedure you expect to be "easier." Finding an appropriately sized right-hand drill bit will be easier. Starting the drill bit on axis certainly won't be easier.

PRRose · · Boulder · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

Use a screw extractor—you can get a set at any hardware store. These are designed specifically to remove bolts or screws with buggered up heads.

Lubricate first.

dave custer · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 2,873

A WD-40 soaking and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw…

John Sigmon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2019 · Points: 83

I'm in Sandy and I can give you some new bolts. Could also help drill the old one out if you come by at the right time. 202-506-0857

Dave McMahon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2017 · Points: 1
PRRose wrote:

Use a screw extractor—you can get a set at any hardware store. These are designed specifically to remove bolts or screws with buggered up heads.

Lubricate first.

exactly what my learned colleague here said

try a penitraiting oil like pb blast 

the bright side its probably something you can find locally at a hardware store with like stainless hardware.

worst case the extractor breaks and you have to just drill and tap which sounds scary but i did it on my old land rovers engine block so less pressure here for sure

Francois Dumas · · Chicoutimi · Joined Nov 2020 · Points: 0

Just drill it on the he nut side with a decent bit a bit wider that the threads. I drilled a bolt on my nomic at the beginning of the season and there worked out fine. 

Grant Kleeves · · Ridgway, CO · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 60

drill is the way, it's easier on the bolt side as the stripped-out hex head lines the bit up, drill with a bit just a tiny bit larger than the threads and the head of the bolt will pop right off, takes maybe a minute per bolt, if I remember correctly Petzl picks come with fresh bolts anyway. 

J B · · Cambridge, MA · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 20

Depending on how severely stripped, you can sometimes hammer a torx bit into the head and break the bolt loose with an impact driver. 

This approach is more relevant and important for BD picks, where the bolts are harder to cut out.

Finn Lanvers · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 187

I don’t have any petzl tools anymore but I think that it is a pretty standard bolt, I think this is the measurement M8 x 1.25 mm Thread, 20 mm Long

Like this one

timothy fisher · · CHARLOTTE · Joined Nov 2017 · Points: 30
Finn Lanvers wrote:

I don’t have any petzl tools anymore but I think that it is a pretty standard bolt, I think this is the measurement M8 x 1.25 mm Thread, 20 mm Long

Like this one


The factory bolts have that kind of shallow head but they have 10.9  rated hardness.(like grade 8 SAE).  Those stainless bolts are not nearly as tough.

Nick Goldsmith · · NEK · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 460

easy outs. did this last week on my plow truck. 

use a left twist drill bit that should come with the set of easy outs.  this one is crooked because I could not get a straight shot at this stud with the drill. 

John Sigmon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2019 · Points: 83
Francois Dumas wrote:

Just drill it on the he nut side with a decent bit a bit wider that the threads. I drilled a bolt on my nomic at the beginning of the season and there worked out fine. 

As a former auto mechanic who has tried every method in this thread more than once this is the easiest fwiw :)


edit i think i quoted the wrong one lol you want to drill on the bolt head side and save your nut.

ratherbefishing · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 50

Slot the head with a dremel cut off disk and use a flat screwdriver to remove the bolt. The bolts can be hard to drill if you don't have good bits or a drill press. 

J B · · Cambridge, MA · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 20

When you install the new fasteners, add a dab of anti seize. That'll prevent the problem from reoccurring. Pretty much any form of grease on the threads will work if you don't have anti seize.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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