Repair 7

How to Get a Broken Bolt out of a Harmonic Balancer With EasyOut

A broken harmonic balancer bolt can cost a lot of money to have professionally removed from the threaded hole in which it is stuck. An EasyOut can help you remove the broken section of the bolt without the hassle of bringing your vehicle to a mechanic. Special care needs to be taken to make sure you do not damage the threads in the harmonic balancer or break off the hardened EasyOut inside the bolt. A broken EasyOut requires a professional machinist to remove both the broken bolt and EasyOut.

Instructions

1

Spray penetrating oil on the end of the broken bolt. Allow the penetrating oil to soak in around the bolt for five to six hours.

2

Align the tip of a center punch with the center of the broken bolt. Hit the center punch with a hammer to make a depression on the end of the broken bolt.

3

Secure a 1/8-inch left-hand drill bit in the chuck of a drill motor. Drill a hole at least 1/2-inch deep in the end of the bolt, using the center punch depression as a guide to hold the drill bit in place. Exchange the 1/8-inch drill bit for the drill bit recommended by an EasyOut set for the size of the broken bolt. Enlarge the hole with the larger drill bit.

4

Set the squared end of the recommended EasyOut into the tee-handle wrench supplied with the set. Tighten the handle of the wrench to hold the EasyOut in place.

5

Place the tapered end of the EasyOut in the drilled hole running through the center of the broken bolt. Turn the tee-handle wrench counterclockwise to force the EasyOut into the hole. Continue turning the wrench until the broken section of the bolt backs out of the threaded hole.