How to remove a stripped bolt

[52Cadillac]

It's the drain plug in torus cover the head is stripped. I think it's a 1/4" plug. Vise grips don't seem to grip good enough. Maybe drill it and use an extractor. Thought about leaving it as is, but how much fluid will leak out when I pull tranny back to replace flywheel?
Thanks, Mike

[R Schroeder]

Shooting from the hip here, because I'm not familiar with this type of tranny set up.
Don't you have to remove all the torus cover bolts first, before removing bell housing bolts ?
Roy

[Dan LeBlanc]

If its anything like the dual range Jetaway Hydramatic in my 61, the bulk of your leakage will occur from the tail section when the shaft is removed and of course from the drain in the pan.

I remember Sears used to sell an extractor that would work on rounded off bolt heads. I bought one a few years ago and it works great. The harder you torque onto the fastener, the tighter it grips.

[52Cadillac]

Roy,  Mines a two piece housing. Lower is removed to expose lower Flywheel, and torus cover. Then a plug to unscrew to drain fluid from cover.

Dan,  Ill try sears this week to see what they have. Everything else has been drained. I'm hoping all I have to do is pull tranny back enough to remove flywheel.

Thanks, Mike

[76eldo]

I have these in different sizes and they work great:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-number/52061/0009/009?utm_source=gogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=52061&sid=SPDxGPROD

Brian

[52Cadillac]

Yeah I like those a lot better then the old style.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Brian

That's exactly the set I was talking about. I used it on the exhaust manifold bolts on my last 62 with an Impact wrench and they came out wonderfully.

[RyanBurman]

Irwin makes a good set sockets with with sharp twirled teeth that really grip onto a bolt head. Even a soft one. Used them all the time for exhaust manifold bolts. Harbor Freight also sells a cheapie set that I've used before and they worked well just not sure about how long they will last over a better branded product.

Most important thing I learned is that they really work if you hammer them on but you gotta keep them straight.

[52Cadillac]

Another way: Took an extra 12pt 3/8" socket pounded into the soft 7/16" bolt head and removed successfully. Saved an hour trip and few dollars.
Thanks, Mike

[76eldo]

I've done that too.  Even did that on wheel locks when the key was lost.  If you split a Craftsman socket in the process they give you a new one anyway.

Brian

[RyanBurman]

You really have to make sure you get a quality socket back now with craftsmen at least at sears anyways. Went to take in a fine tooth mechanics grade 1/2 ratchet and they tried to give me back a standard cheapo non fine tooth back. I told them I wanted the identical or close match to what I had.

After the manager came over(lady behind the counter knew nothing about tools) he knew what I wanted and pulled a new one one off the shelf.  Just make sure you get back what you brought in!

[pauldridge]

simplest way is just to weld a nut on top of the original.  The heat will help loosen the plug, and you'll hve an intact nut to remove the plug