How to take out a stripped allen nut

razorseal · Sep 20, 2011, 04:58 PM

I'm trying to swap my main landing gear and the little collar that is being held on by the allen nut seems to be stripped...

I tried 2 diff allen keys, and it just spins loose...

Tried putting tape on the key to make it little thicker, but it didn't work either...

so any ideas?

C₄H₁₀ · Sep 20, 2011, 05:07 PM

If it's a 1.5mm screw, try using a 1/16" wrench. It's just a tiny bit bigger and may give you the traction you need.

If that doesn't work, see if you can grab the whole collar with pliers and twist/pull it off. If not, just Dremel it off and replace it.

C₄H₁₀ · Sep 20, 2011, 05:09 PM

^ ^

I just realized that my post above is EXACTLY the path I would follow in the real world. Normally when I post something like that it's a list of possible options, but that one was like I was holding the plane trying to physically solve the problem for myself. Interesting....

Wilfor · Sep 20, 2011, 06:09 PM

Sometimes a really small torx bit will go in and grab enough to get it out , either that or file down a bigger key untill it fits .

TFM70 · Sep 20, 2011, 07:47 PM

Sometimes it isn't the hole that is rounded out but the wrench is rounded.
Grind off about 1/8 in. of the wrench and try again.

outdoorsjd · Sep 20, 2011, 08:59 PM

If you want to save the collar, you can get what is known as an "easy out" (available at any hardware store) Basically it is a reverse spiral bit that bites in the screw head when you twist out the screw like normal

Whiskers · Sep 20, 2011, 10:13 PM

I agree with, "Grind off about 1/8 in. of the wrench and try again."
Leaving the grinding burr on the end of the tool sometimes helps too.
If that brings no joy, I have sometimes resorted to making a cut through the collar and into the screw, and then used a small cross-head (conventional) screwdriver to remove the screw.
An Easy Out usually requires a hole to be drilled into the screw. They can cause more problems than they solve. When they work... Great. When they break... You've got a thing harder than a drill jammed in the work.

Tstubbs · Sep 21, 2011, 12:30 AM

cut it off with a dremel tool. That or use one of these. the small one is best for that

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piec...set-95530.html

ilektron · Sep 21, 2011, 12:52 AM

Nobody has mentioned drilling the screw out. A last resort, but it works.

domll · Sep 21, 2011, 07:01 AM

Sacrifice a allen key by glueing into the allen nut with epoxy.

Freddie B · Sep 21, 2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domll

Sacrifice a allen key by glueing into the allen nut with epoxy.

You can heat the Allen key and screw with a pencil torch or large soldering tool after to get the key out of the epoxy.

I have also crammed bits of aluminum foil in the hole, pressed the wrench in, and then removed. Sometimes a slight tightening twist first, before backing it out can help 'break' the fit to help loosen the screw.

It is almost always the key/wrench that rounded off, unless the screw cracked. Cut off the end of the key, but old machine shop trick is keep the key cool. If you overheat the key grinding it ( turns blue/black) it softens the metal and the keyy will never be good again. They are heat treated usually on good ones to keep them from rounding off in the first place.

Fred

Redbrickman · Sep 21, 2011, 06:00 PM

Probably already tried this but tighten it first if possible as it sometimes breaks the "seal"

Also a sharp tap on the head of the screw with a small hammer to shock the threads a bit may help.

I uses to lose my temper with allen screws that screwed out of aluminium housings bring the hardened helicoil insert with them ;-(

Good luck!

Sep 20, 2011, 04:58 PM	#1
razorseal Registered User Boca Raton FL Joined Nov 2010 585 Posts	How to take out a stripped allen nut I'm trying to swap my main landing gear and the little collar that is being held on by the allen nut seems to be stripped... I tried 2 diff allen keys, and it just spins loose... Tried putting tape on the key to make it little thicker, but it didn't work either... so any ideas?

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Sep 20, 2011, 05:07 PM	#2
C₄H₁₀ Wake up, feel pulse, be happy! United States, MN, Minneapolis Joined Aug 2009 10,803 Posts	If it's a 1.5mm screw, try using a 1/16" wrench. It's just a tiny bit bigger and may give you the traction you need. If that doesn't work, see if you can grab the whole collar with pliers and twist/pull it off. If not, just Dremel it off and replace it.

Sep 20, 2011, 05:09 PM	#3
C₄H₁₀ Wake up, feel pulse, be happy! United States, MN, Minneapolis Joined Aug 2009 10,803 Posts	^ ^ I just realized that my post above is EXACTLY the path I would follow in the real world. Normally when I post something like that it's a list of possible options, but that one was like I was holding the plane trying to physically solve the problem for myself. Interesting....

Sep 20, 2011, 06:09 PM	#4
Wilfor Medicinal Foam User 150 mile house B.C. Canada Joined Jan 2010 3,458 Posts	Sometimes a really small torx bit will go in and grab enough to get it out , either that or file down a bigger key untill it fits .

Sep 20, 2011, 07:47 PM	#5
TFM70 Registered User USA, GA, Carrollton Joined Jan 2008 438 Posts	Sometimes it isn't the hole that is rounded out but the wrench is rounded. Grind off about 1/8 in. of the wrench and try again.

Sep 20, 2011, 08:59 PM	#6
outdoorsjd Registered User Joined May 2011 18 Posts	If you want to save the collar, you can get what is known as an "easy out" (available at any hardware store) Basically it is a reverse spiral bit that bites in the screw head when you twist out the screw like normal

Sep 20, 2011, 10:13 PM	#7
Whiskers Build straight - Fly twisty Australia, QLD, Little Mountain Joined Feb 2010 3,285 Posts	I agree with, "Grind off about 1/8 in. of the wrench and try again." Leaving the grinding burr on the end of the tool sometimes helps too. If that brings no joy, I have sometimes resorted to making a cut through the collar and into the screw, and then used a small cross-head (conventional) screwdriver to remove the screw. An Easy Out usually requires a hole to be drilled into the screw. They can cause more problems than they solve. When they work... Great. When they break... You've got a thing harder than a drill jammed in the work.

Sep 21, 2011, 12:30 AM	#8
Tstubbs FFF CRASH ANALYST United States, TX, Venus Joined Aug 2011 103 Posts	cut it off with a dremel tool. That or use one of these. the small one is best for that http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piec...set-95530.html

Sep 21, 2011, 12:52 AM	#9
ilektron Will fly for food United States, CA, Carlsbad Joined May 2011 520 Posts	Nobody has mentioned drilling the screw out. A last resort, but it works.

Sep 21, 2011, 07:01 AM	#10
domll Registered User Norwich.uk. Joined Oct 2007 541 Posts	Sacrifice a allen key by glueing into the allen nut with epoxy.

Sep 21, 2011, 06:00 PM	#12
Redbrickman Maintain Thine Airspeed ! Wiltshire UK Joined Apr 2010 285 Posts	Probably already tried this but tighten it first if possible as it sometimes breaks the "seal" Also a sharp tap on the head of the screw with a small hammer to shock the threads a bit may help. I uses to lose my temper with allen screws that screwed out of aluminium housings bring the hardened helicoil insert with them ;-( Good luck!