How To Remove A Rounded Nut Or Bolt Without An Impact Wrench

In this video I go over your options on as far as what you can use to remove and replace a rounded off bolt or nut.

[ThisMeansMyPSsOut]

Fun fact: Im currently watching this video under my car… after an hour of FAILURE

[ubeven]

I've been trying to do this and honestly it would be easier to just buy a new engine that comes with another free non-rounded bolt

[mufarowashejoshuamangwiro]

Fun Fact: 90% of people watching this have been emotionally abused by an inanimate object

[nikoswans]

Went to auto zone. Got the bolt extractor sockets for like $15 bucks. Worked in 3 minutes. I spent almost an hour trying everything from vice grips to channel locks to wd40 to being gentle with a regular socket etc. bought a new plug and am happy. I did have to hammer the socket into place. Thank you.

[ottofumbler]

👍🏻 This is still the only video I can find that shows a true to life situation.

Anyone who knows, instantly realises why this bolt is rounded-off in the first instance... ageing vehicle, big thread / high torque bolt, limited access for impact tools, and permanently open to corrosion.

Whenever I come across something this bad, I always renew the bolt with a fresh one, and I often use a copper crush washer, or some copper grease when reinstalling (with a few exceptions). Give yourself (or the next guy) a fighting chance.

[christineslavin]

changed the alternator for my husband today while he's at work and your video helped. thanks so much for posting :)

[hoskinsfilms]

I chose to watch this video because it was 5 minutes. There are other videos that are 12 minutes long that manage to tell you less information. I'll let you know if these solutions worked, but I appreciate you getting to the point.

[ramiroayala]

I'm done with this bolt. Just came here to watch someone get it right done. Good job man.

[steveday]

Your the man! Hammered a smaller socket then used impact wrench. Came right out. A big 7 year later, THANK YOU!

[davidbreiner]

Just bought this socket set at Harbor Freight yesterday and removed a rounded rusted nut under my van. Definitely worth it with 20% coupon :)

[x-man]

When using Vise Grips, adjustable wrench, Channel Locks, always turn toward the moveable jaw. The way you had vise grips on the bolt head first was the correct way. Sounds crazy but it really does make a difference. Think of it like using a pipe wrench where you HAVE TO turn toward the adjustable or moving jaw or it won't bite at all.
To remove this bolt I would have used a heat gun to heat the pan up around the bolt. Yes, it will heat the bolt also but the hole, nut, female threaded portion will ALWAYS expand faster than the bolt because the hole has less mass. After heating about 5min, hit it with a shot of CRC freeze off. Wait about 1-2 mins. Wipe the bolt head clean/dry. Then get a good bite on the bolt head with vise grips the same way you did the first try in the video and that bolt should come loose without much sweat. There are, of course times were you can't get the vise grips on the right way. When this happens, put them on the other way and get them super tight.

[msfkmsfk]

You are my hero. You just explained pretty much all my questions and concerns in one short video. You also explained the issues I was having as well. Now I would love to see a video on how to remove oil filters in hard to reach places.

[merlin]

Another option that i have used myself is to hold a larger nut in place over the rounded one and weld in the centre of it to the rounded nut, then use the appropriate socket to remove, the heat from the weld helps no end. The same can be done for counter sunk allen sockets.

[scottr]

I'm glad I watched your video. I have a broken off alternator bolt that I need to back out and your solution is perfect!

[stever]

The socket type that worked is called a Bolt Grip (by Irwin) or Turbo Socket (made by Hudson Bearing, which originated the helical internal shape).  There are Craftsman versions, as well as those offered by Harbor Freight and others.  Craftsman uses a through-bolt style, so you grip it with a wrench, or you can use a socket to grip the hex bottom.  I believe all the other makes permit you to attach the socket directly to a ratchet by it's square drive end.  They all use a 6-pt. grip design which bites into the fastener to hold it; the harder you turn, the tighter the grip.  Very effective.

[seenonyoutube]

Why do some people think they have to use an air impact to tighten a drain plug?

[ptcruiser]

This whole entire video boils down to “go get special sockets”

[snnyburnett]

Kinda funny how you and scottykilmer both release the same video at the same time with the same title.
What you said about swing room made me realize why air hammers are so valuable. Don't know why I never realized it before.

[XxIcybluexX]

With vise grip you can use a very large pair of channel locks to clamp the grips to the tightest it can go. Once it's off use the channel locks to snap the release mechanism on the vise grips to open them.

[richmond]

Your video is a life saver. This solution was what worked for me after so many attempts. Thank you so much.