Wish I had a 6 point spanner.....

[RaceDiagnostics]

I was changing the serpentine belt on the car yesterday, for this the tensioner needs to come off, its held on with a 13mm bolt. There is no space to get a socket on to the bolt, only enough space to slip in a ring spanner. It slipped and rounded off the head of the bolt agghhhh!

Right I'll need to remove the fan and cowl, just held on with 2 nuts into captive bolts, one came off and the other just spun so next Ill need to take off the radiator top hose to cut out the captive bolt.

If I'm lucky I will have access to hammer on a 6 point socket and break the tensioner bolt free, otherwise it will be a total dismantling of the front of the car to get access, what a total PITA.

All for the sake of a 6 point spanner, time to invest in a set.

 

[Windy Miller]

What car is it? Sounds like the same sort of fun I had on a Merc 320 a few months ago!

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

XK8, there is about 15mm clearance between the bolt through the tensioner and the fans. Bolts been in there for 14 years and isn't interested in coming out.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Yes, I feel your pain.

I had to help a friend do the Air con pump and the belt on his Mondeo.

I had lots of fun.

I was watching.

No space, the tensioner is a 3/8 square hole.

How I laughed.

 

[MoreWellie]

cut off the business end of a six sided socket and then weld it on to a flat bar

should I change my username to bodgit and scarper?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

cut off the business end of a six sided socket and then weld it on to a flat bar

should I change my username to bodgit and scarper?

B&Q
Bodgit and quit.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I'm now worried that since the head of the bolt has been trashed by the 12 point a 6 point may not hold, so next it could be trying to weld a big nut on in there.

 

[Pete.]

Cut half an inch off the six point socket and weld that bit to the ring end of an old combination spanner.

 

[colnerov]

Try and get hold of a OTS or 'off the shoulder' socket, they operate on the flanks of the nut.

 

[pedrobedro]

I have 1/4" drive sockets in 6 point that go up to 13mm and can get in most places with them.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll be back on it tonight.

 

[BrokenBiker]

cut off the business end of a six sided socket and then weld it on to a flat bar

should I change my username to bodgit and scarper?

This is what I would have done...and infact have done similar not too long ago...needed to get an 18mm socket on a nut on my fathers jag but didn't have space for the rematches head so chopped the ring off a spare spanned, put the socket in place and welded the spanner in a suitable place

 

[Rocketman]

The bolt isn't a 13mm it's a M8. One question is are the ring spanners worn or not very tight tolerance? The reason being a 12 point fitting properly would shear a M8 bolt head no problem way before it rounds it off.

Had someone had a go at it in the past. Biggest culprit for starting rounding off heads IMO is using a open spanner not fully engaged.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

It looked like someone had had a go at it before, the spanner was almost new.

 

[wookie]

should I change my username to bodgit and scarper?

Na, "That's the way to do it" or "Get out of jail card" would be more apt.

 

[harryb94]

A set of irwin bolt removers are handy for rounded bolts!

 

[Rocketman]

It looked like someone had had a go at it before, the spanner was almost new.

I think that is often the problem. 6 point probably was a better bet then

I have got some very old combi 12 point ring spanners made in England late 60's, and they are very good. But it doesn't get past the fact they have been used so much by my dad and then me they have got a bit loose compared to the new ones I have. Sad but even the best wear out eventually.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Got it sorted tonight!

The tensioner is down here.

The fan is only held on by two nuts but one was spinning, I managed to get a hack saw blade in to cut it off once the top hose was off.

Fans out.

Then there was plenty room.

Cracked off no problem in the end with a 6 point OTS.

Probably worth replacing the idlers just now too.

 

[Bill Edwards]

The best tool for the job would have been a flank drive ring spanner, if you decide to invest they're the ones to go for.
Well best of all is the flank drive plus (from Snap-on, though I believe other makes do them probably for sensible money) where the open end also offers a lot more grip than a regular open end.

A tip for rounded bolts when using a socket. If you grind the end of it down (but keep it cool, you don't want to lose the temper) then you remove the chamfer which helps locate it on a bolt head but transmits no force. That extra mm or so of socket engagement onto what'll be the best (untouched) part of the bolt head can make all the difference.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Had to google flank drive...