 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Drilling out seized bolts in bodywork |
 
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| JPE Member Since: 19 Nov 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 335   
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Hi, looking for some advice please.
My ladder is starting to rust & there's corrosion around some of the bolt holes. So I thought it would be a simple job to unscrew the ladder and treat the problems before it all gets too bad. The first bolt unscrewed easily enough but of course all the others are seized solid. It doesn't help that the bolts are of the small hex socket type (probably better suited for bicycles) which its impossible to get any grip on. I'm thinking I'll need to drill them out whilst avoiding damaging the rivnuts. Any advice on undertaking such an operation & what are the best drill bits for such a job? Many thanks. |
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10th May 2020 3:59pm |
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| The Zee Member Since: 26 May 2019 Location: Salisbury Posts: 289 
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I would try Loctite 8040 – Freeze & Release, it’s not cheap, but is easier than drilling.
The problem is a hex cap screw is they are often high tensile so are an alloyed steel, making them harder to drill; new sharp drill bits, a good drill with fine speed control and patience is probably what's needed.  Zaid-M
www.DefencePhotos.com 2014 Defender 110 Utility, 2.2 Puma, Indus Silver Not just transport more like a religion |
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10th May 2020 6:02pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111  
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Blacksmiths drill bits are the ones you should use. Reasonably priced available from tool station and Screwfix. These bits will drill through any metal and stay sharp for a long time. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..
http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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10th May 2020 6:28pm |
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| JPE Member Since: 19 Nov 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 335
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Thank you for all your advice. Very much appreciated.
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10th May 2020 7:22pm |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2173 
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Drill the whole lot out. Treat the corrosion. Replace the rivnut Instagram @defender_ventures
Empire Tuning - Agent |
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10th May 2020 8:27pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17442 
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What do you mean by "blacksmiths drill"? A blacksmiths drill is generally the name given to a large (well, moderately large) HSS twist drill with a reduced shank. In other words the sort of thing you might use if you needed to drill a 3/4" hole and the chuck of your drill was limited to 1/2". Such a bit probably wouldn't be much use in this situation! |
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10th May 2020 8:51pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8050  
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I would imagine that the rivnut is u/s and therefore I wouldnt bother trying to save it. Drill or grind the head off and knock rivnut through and replace with new. Cheers
James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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10th May 2020 9:10pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2244 
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^^^ What James has said, the rivnuts will be scrap, save yourself the work and cut the heads off.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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11th May 2020 7:10am |
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| ARC99 Member Since: 19 Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1831 
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Correct, Blacksmith drills are no harder than ordinary drills. If you are drilling anything to preserve the drill life the drill bit should be cooled and lubricated with something such as Roco Rtd Tri-logic Cutting Lubricant it is expensive but I have found it to be the best. Start with a small drill bit and work up gradually, take your time, don't try and force the drill through, let the drill bit do the work. If the ladder is on the back is it possible to look behind the panels, the reason I ask is that someone I know had a dealer fit his ladder and the mechanic put nuts on the back to prevent the theft of the ladder. Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to  us off.
Richard |
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11th May 2020 8:38am |
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| JPE Member Since: 19 Nov 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 335
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Thanks for all the advice.
Ladder is off & I've drilled out 4 of the 6 rivnuts. Hell of a job! 2 still to do,, but my wife said she couldn't work with all that racket!!! 
So I'm waiting for an opportune moment to drill the remains of the last 2 bolts & rivnuts out. My plan had been to tidy everything up and then refit the ladder, but now I've seen what a mess its all in I'm wondering whether there's any ladders that don't require to bolt into the panels. It seems to me a couple of bolts into the cross member & clamping onto the gutter should be enough. I certainly want to avoid 2 top, 4 middle & 2 big ones at the bottom which is what I have now. So many corrosion points. Then I could fill and paint the holes & not need to worry about corrosion (on this one particular part of my 110 anyway! )
Once again thanks for all the advice. |
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11th May 2020 2:21pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111
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These are the sizes available from tool station £4.69 ex. VAT £3.91 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 14mm (73936) 20+ Available Each £3.28 ex. VAT £2.73 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 16mm (90504) 20+ Available Each £4.21 ex. VAT £3.51 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 18mm (22649) 20+ Available Each HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 19mm (18431) 2 Available Each £4.64 ex. VAT £3.87 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 20mm (55192) 20+ Available Each £4.86 ex. VAT £4.05 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 22mm (66203) 20 Available Each £7.98 ex. VAT £6.65 HSS Blacksmith Drill Bit 25mm (95298) 20+ Available Each For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 Last edited by gilarion on 11th May 2020 3:10pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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11th May 2020 3:09pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8050
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i have one ladder that bolts to gutter clamp and then 2 body mounts above the number plate light.
the other one i have goes on crossmember and back of rack. (patriot) Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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11th May 2020 3:10pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17442
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Those will be reduced shank HSS twist drills, since most power drill chucks are either 10mm or 12mm capacity, aside from the reduced shank they are just HSS twist drills! I don't really see though why you'd want a drill bit that large (14mm +) to drill out seized bolt in bodywork (the OP's question) since I cannot offhand think of any bolts or setscrews used on a Landrover body larger than 8mm diameter. My advice would be just to buy a good set of HSS drills (i.e., Dormer, or another equally reputable make) and look after them. For drilling out seized bolts a left hand flute twist drill is perfect, but they are rather specialist and not quite so easy to find. |
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11th May 2020 5:27pm |
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| JPE Member Since: 19 Nov 2018 Location: South West England Posts: 335
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I've now drilled them all out & feeling relieved that part of the jobs over.
I have four 6mm holes, one 8mm & one 1cm !!! - Don't ask !!! |
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11th May 2020 6:39pm |
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