“Head” bolt stuck into the head!!!

[outdoorsman310]

why were you torquing the head bolts? the way i usually get bolts out is with a dremel and a flathead but i think you have to take the head off and i would worry about getting grit in the engine! i am no expert on this.

Topic

[619DioFan]

A right angle drill ( air powered prefered ) will get you in there. use a cobalt drill bit ( pilot point ) and take your time. an easy out attached to a 1/4 inch drive impact grade extension should reach down to the hole. use a ratchet to turn the extension/easy out. keep us posted.

[Matt]

Quoted From 619DioFan:

A right angle drill ( air powered prefered ) will get you in there. use a cobalt drill bit ( pilot point ) and take your time. an easy out attached to a 1/4 inch drive impact grade extension should reach down to the hole. use a ratchet to turn the extension/easy out. keep us posted.

This may very well work, especially if the bolt doesn’t have much torque on it. Just be careful you don’t accidentally drill into the side of the head or what-not. Otherwise, you are more than likely going to have to have the head pulled one way or another.

[maximus20895]

Too bad that requires me to purchase a right angle drill which I don’t have the money for.

I was hoping for some sort of easy out that I don’t have to use a drill. Is there any such thing? Maybe one that I would use a ratchet or something?

[Trcustoms719]

Quoted From 619DioFan:

A right angle drill ( air powered prefered ) will get you in there. use a cobalt drill bit ( pilot point ) and take your time. an easy out attached to a 1/4 inch drive impact grade extension should reach down to the hole. use a ratchet to turn the extension/easy out. keep us posted.

Great post.
Thats the only way I can think of too.

[Matt]

Quoted From maximus20895:

Too bad that requires me to purchase a right angle drill which I don’t have the money for.

I was hoping for some sort of easy out that I don’t have to use a drill. Is there any such thing? Maybe one that I would use a ratchet or something?

You have to use a drill at some point to use an easy out. ‘Easy’ is kind of a misleading term by the way.

[Trcustoms719]

Quoted From Beefy:

You have to use a drill at some point to use an easy out. ‘Easy’ is kind of a misleading term by the way.

Yeah haha, then “easy outs” can be a real pain in the arse.
But you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Matt Brandsema]

Hmmm, I am no expert (As many people on this forum are!) But there has to be a way to get a drill in there! Maybe you can use a swivel extension or something? (I use my impact wrench for a drill so this would be viable for me) Sorry man but if there is no way to get a drill in there I don’t see any other way than to take the head off. But again I am no expert! Good luck!

[Fader]

Well said AccordinGB. After I went back and really looked at the first photo again I realized how simple it is to get to the rest of the bolt after I had read your comment. I looked to fast and thought it was going to be hectic to get to but then I was like “AH!” Excellent point. I would go with AccordinGB’s post.

This is why I love coming to this Forum for all my repair help!

[maximus20895]

I might I might try that. I just don’t have enough room to hit it with a hammer right now. I will see what I can do. There is a little raised part of the bolt and I tried that and it catches it sometimes, but then it let’s go unfortunately.

[maximus20895]

Quoted From AccordinGB:

You have broken one of the bolts for the exhaust camshaft retainers. There are four retainers on each camshaft.

Normally these bolts have to be torqued correctly so the camshaft is held straight but still gets oil between it and the retainer. Since one bolt is broken the torque is off so we will not worry about that.

Remove the other bolt that holds the camshaft retainer. Remove the retainer from the camshaft – it may need a bit of prying under both ends to get it up.

Now you do not have the 3 inch tunnel to look down, and you should see the top of the broken bolt flush with the head. This will allow you to use your reverse drill, etc.

This is almost perfect. That’s why I said “head” bolt. I didn’t think it was a head bolt since the manual says 16 ft lbs which is nothing, especially for a head bolt.

Now, one to the camshaft retainer. Is it okay for me to just take of the bolts that hold that one on or do I have to remove all of them. I don’t know if just removing one would warp anything or not. The retainer is also about an inch or so long so I would have an extra inch to get in there.

I’m starting to have hope again. Thanks everyone for your replies. There is a faint light at the end of the tunnel.

[maximus20895]

Quoted From college man:

can you just try a flat blade screw driver the same size
as the broken bolt. see if it will catch on the break and
start to turn. I would be cautious about striking it.
are there any threads exposed or is it broken flush?
if there are some threads to grab this tool in the link
might work to grab and turn the bolt out. you should be
able to get this at an auto store

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/54399 … 1546_.html

Yea, I thought of that and I have that tool (very handy btw), but the claws being closed are bigger than 8mm which is the size of the hole.

Thanks for your help!

[maximus20895]

Sorry for the replies back to back.

Just to help show what I’m dealing with, here is a diagram of the head:

And another one from the manual:

So looking at this picture, going outside in the garage actually examining closer as well as the help of ETCGers I have come up with this:

The Camshaft retainer is 1 inch deep, if I take that off I will now go from a 3 inch tunnel down to a 2 inch tunnel. This may work. However, if it does not work and it’s still too deep I could also take out the rocker assembly which is roughly 2 inches deep. If this is taken off, I will then have maybe 1/4 of the bolt sticking up or it might to just flush to the head.

Anyways, this is what I have come up with. I would think it would be MUCH easier dealing with the bolt if the camshaft retainer was off and even more so if the rocker arm assembly came off if worse comes to worse. I would also think that I would be able to get it out without removing the head.

Now, I’m anxious and very much relieved. Once again, thank you all for your help. I will certainly keep everyone updated!

Oh, I forgot, someone asked where I live. I live in Knoxville, TN!

Thanks again!

[skim3544]

if you cannot get drill in there, then your mechanic is correct – you would need to remove the head. Take all the head bolts out, disconnect intake, exhaust, and timing chain and lift the head. if broken bolt is in the short block, it will come out. if not, then you really don’t have much of choice other than drilling. You can force the head out but you would risk damaging the head (thread).

Which car is this? Just curious.

[college man]

I believe the head must be removed. if you do drill you can’t
see what your drilling into. you need to be centered.

[maximus20895]

It’s a 2007 Civic Si 2.0L.

He quoted me 13 hours of labor which is $1600.

He called around and found a left hand drill bit that long enough to go into the hole so I’m hoping that will work since I don’t have $1600..not even close.

I’m extremely depressed and in tears with this matter. I’m not even 25 and I barely work so I don’t make much at all. I might have made $1600 in the last 5 months..

My Aunt is talking to her husband about it since he knows some people and he works on cars at his place. I don’t know what else I’m going to do.

[Author]

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