broken sub frame bolt

[GSART]

Whilst stripping down my bike to do the clutch (which was a piece of cake after reading the threads on this site - thanks guys!) i managed to break the front mounting bolt from the rear subframe (right hand side, just above the front wishbone mount) . typical steel bolt in aluminium corrosion. i have about 3/4 cm of bolt protruding from the engine but try as i might with release spray and heat i cannot get it out. i dont have easy outs and have limited facilities to drill the bolt remains out.

so, to the point, can anybody give me advice to get the remains of this bolt out so that i can finish the job and get my bike back together.

thanks in advance.

 

[kompost]

Do you know anyone with welding equipment,if you do get them to weld a piece of bar to the remains and use it to wind out the bolt end.

 

[GSART]

i do, but they are 30 miles away and i am concerned about riding the bike with only 3 of the 4 sub frame bolts secure....

 

[Steptoe]

i do, but they are 30 miles away and i am concerned about riding the bike with only 3 of the 4 sub frame bolts secure....

Perfectly safe to ride to get it fixed.

There are people out there riding around in complete ignorance with broken subframes who are none the wiser.

 

[Bronco Billy]

yeah but think how much safer they would be with good bolts...

 

[meintjiesj]

Welding would be your best bet. When I've been lucky enough to have a surface to weld on it has always worked. I also think that it is the heat that is generated that does most of the work for you. Nothing else can heat the source of the problem so much as the weld...

I've just come across a similar thing tonight where a steel bolt was corroded in alluminium. The small bolt that holds the Brake hose bracket to the fork bridge. The one came out with a lot of heat (thanks guys for suggesting a heat gun) and hammering but the other one actually broke off when trying Easy-Outs. First time I saw that allu can corrode so much that it "binds" with the steel. Is there a chemical reaction or am I just unlucky?

 

[boxer]

Could you lock two nuts onto the stud and use these to wind the remains of the bolt out?

 

[davegs]

Broken bolt.

Take it to your welder and if he's got an arc welder put the earth clamp on the engine / frame and hold the welding rod on the end of the bolt. Switch the welder to the highest current setting, now hold the rod in place until the bolt gets very hot.
Leave it to cool and you will find it will come out easily, if not it was not left in place long enough. This requires a decent arc welder and the usual "air
cooled diy jobs will be unlikely to work. This is by far the best way to remove broken cylinder head studs, this is very effective but you do need a good welder, that is proper arc welder and not mig or tig.
Dave GS.

 

[GSART]

Thanks for that guys. will get it all back together and get over to a chap i know with a welder and see if i can get it sorted on Monday.

 

[Stewart H]

Dont forget to disconnect the battery when welding
Stewart

 

[Flipfly]

First time I saw that allu can corrode so much that it "binds" with the steel. Is there a chemical reaction or am I just unlucky?

No you're not unlucky. Aluminium doesn't mix well with Carbon Steel simple as that really. Stainless is ok but it's dear and often isn't strong enough for the application.