Pilgrimmick wrote:

Is it an ex-military bumper?

No, it's a civilian copy and so lacks all of the unnecessary holes and came pre-drilled for the rubber end caps. I didn't realise that sorting the pin out would be such a pain though.


Click image to enlarge

Further developments this evening. After having it sit in the freezer overnight, I took a punch and a lump hammer to it and did manage to move the broken bit slightly. Then broke my punch

I haven't got anything else to hand that is both hard enough to drive the bit out and only 2mm diameter and I can't find my blowtorch, which I haven't used for probably ten years, so I'm going to admit defeat and just buy another pin. Fortunately, they're not very expensive.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, though. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

blackwolf wrote:

Several options:
1. Get a new pin, ideally of the right length!
2. Find someone with a spark erosion machine.
3. Using a pointed punch at the bottom of the 6mm hole, belt the bejasus out of it in the hope of bursting through and knocking the fragment out.
4. Heat the pin with oxy acetylene or oxy propane gear in the hope of expanding it enough to free off the fragment.

blackwolf has it right...i'd just change the order of attack...

4 Heat this up and be done with it
3 Then hit it when hot (if it doesn't fall out)
2 Will defiantly work (if you have time)
1 Just isn't a Defender Owners MO...

Good Luck...  SKIP
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html

shaggydog wrote:

Have you tried Blanchard's?

X4SKP wrote:

blackwolf has it right...i'd just change the order of attack...

I've no reason to doubt Mr Blackwolfs suggestions. It's just become a trade off between buying more stuff to fix the problem and buying a new pin. I've gone for the latter, which should be with me tomorrow, as I need to use it over the weekend.

If necessary, I'll just use a pin at the length it comes, but with a bit more care with the drilling, I'm sure I can get it right second time around. I'll post pics  Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

Yeah, that's basically it. I'm very much a means to an end guy when it comes to this stuff

blackwolf wrote:

Use a bigger drill for the pilot hole next time. 2mm is too small for a 1" deep pilot hole in a mild steel pin. I'd use a minimum of 4mm or 5mm.

I realised my mistake the second it snapped I now know that trying to drill through 25mm of steel was just asking too much.

sako243 wrote:

You need it shortened? Can that shortening happen at the 2mm hole end?

If so bring it to the next Sy4x4 meeting (or if you're passing Tongham) this weekend and I can chuck it on the lathe and put some carbide to it. That'll get through it.

A bit in hindsight but if it's a small drill bit you'll want the pillar drill to be on a fast setting otherwise you'll risk the bit biting and exactly this happening. I've got some pretty decent quality Presta drill bits and even managed to snap the 8mm bits because they're so damn sharp. Better off running fast and with coolant (not oil).