Stripped head bolt - anyone been here?
 

Those beautiful mutha%%$$##**&&^^ triple triangles. Must've been getting tired, not aligned and ripped that sucker right around. And these are in **tight**!

I've retorqued the bolts down so as to not warp the head.

Searches seem to indicate that trying to JB weld a big torx or 12mm triple tri wont work, or even mif weld, although I cant beleive mig wouldnt hold 90 ft lbs, but the heat on the head cant be good. Nor do I want to grind it out, even though the head is coming off for a redo, too much "collateral damage.

Am I left with drillng it out until the head is gone>? Some darn big drills I'll need.

Gee, working on these cars is a blast. I could have had two big block chevies done by now - I mean complete engines! 12 point bolts with gobs of torque on them. Who reckoned that one. :confused:

Anyway, any tips would be much appreciated. I reckon I'll have to drill the bolt head out and hope I can slide the head over it??

I've tried a larger hex, and I dont have a torx big enough to hammer in there. Was going to try a larger torx hammered in place ( or 12mm tri) after I got the bolt hot with a propane torch. Shouldnt be too hot to hurt anything.

And I told my wife it was easier to R&R the head rather than buy a complete running engine. Not on a Mbz!

Borrowed a set of Craftsman bolt extractors, the type that swedge onto the bolt head. , size #9, swedged iot on, and when it began to slip, took a 2 lb mallet and seated it to the integral washer and shazzam!

Head is off and to the shop tomorrow am!

Perfect job and you answered your own thread to boot.

As a note if you stripped the head you probably did not get the tool seated all the way in or you may have gotten it off on an angle a bit. If you get it in good and square and keep it that way while applying torque they should always come out without damage.

I am glad you got it finally. Sometimes writing a thread like this helps sort your mind and is a positive contribution.

Even if you are experienced with a benz they will take much longer than a Chevy to disassemble and reassemble. If you are used to chevys and like them and expect a mercedes engine to be like one of them to work on you will be frustrated all the while.

If you approach the mercedes engine with an open mind and patience you will eventually come to love and respect the quality of materials and design that goes into one.

They're not fast though, to work on.

The quality of the fasteners though is outstanding and if you do it correctly you will almost never break a fastener on a benz.

Tom W

911 For future "torque happy" gearheads that maul that dang inner hex.

Tom, I;m not a mechanic, just a hobbyist and a poor one. I guess my "level of ability" stops at the BBC, although the challenge of getting this nice 606 runnign like a Swiss watch has been good practice.

Plus we have near 1000 gals of WVO awaiting brewing so, I do have a financical incentive!

I must chime in on the quality of the german hardware- everytime I work on a benz up here in the rust belt I am amazed at the quality of the fasteners- I have not had to extract/ torch off anything except one brake bleeder.