Rounded bolt replacing belt

[thekatiel]

Need some assistance.

Thought I could manage to replace my serpentine belt on my own but ended up rounding off the 12mm bolt. I went to Lowe's to see if I could get a replacement bolt for when I did get the rounded bolt off but they said I would need to know the size of the rest of the bolt. All I knew was that I used a 12mm wrench (and a non hexagon socket thing).

Does anyone know the exact size of the bolt? And the easiest way to get off the rounded bolt?

[bronsin]

First off I believe you rounded off a NUT not a BOLT. I might be wrong.

Can you check that?

Thanks!

To remove a rounded nut or bolt you need a special wrench or socket made by Snap On. These tools drive on the flat of the nut or bolt not the corners as ordinary tools do.

Perhaps you can borrow one from a local shop in 12mm.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by bronsin

First off I believe you rounded off a NUT not a BOLT. I might be wrong.

Can you check that?

Thanks!

To remove a rounded nut or bolt you need a special wrench or socket made by Snap On. These tools drive on the flat of the nut or bolt not the corners as ordinary tools do.

Perhaps you can borrow one from a local shop in 12mm.

Went out and looked at my own engine and yes, its a bolt.

Sorry.

It looks to me like a vicegrip will fit on the BOLT to remove it.

Do you have one?

Once you remove the bolt bring it to the hardware store and find a replacement.

But if it was mine I would just tighten the original bolt with the vicegrip.

Good luck!

[junorico24]

You can buy the bolt OEM from the dealers, brand spanking new. Yeah, you're without the right tool and experience it is very easy to round those bolts. But the rule is and always use this as a guide. Use an extension on your ratchet ( a pipe is great for this job) and always turn it anti clock wise. I believe the bolt is 12mm and the bottom a 14 mm or 15 mm not sure.

Any wayz to get it off. Try another 12 mm socket but this time use these tough rattle gun sockets ( the black ones below). Because the strength and quality of your socket and ratchet can also cause it to round if they are of poor quality set. Get those high grade set and you will break any nut first time lol. Maybe nut! lol.

[ezhacker1]

Which bolt? On the alternator adjustment? Anyways, get a bolt extractor like the Irwin Bolt Grip set, used it just once for one of the seat mount bolts, quick and easy. Haven't had to use it since but kept it just in case.

[NEexpat]

Put something on the ground under the area of the bolt, spray it with PB Blaster, then go have a sandwich.

After the sandwich, go spray it again. Go watch a football game or whatever may interest you, I myself, I did some fall yard work today.

Spray it one more time and leave it overnight. Then I would employ any of the above.

Good luck.

It probably doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway, wear gloves whenever monkeying around with bolts, nuts etc. in tight spaces

[thekatiel]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Went out and looked at my own engine and yes, its a bolt.

Sorry.

It looks to me like a vicegrip will fit on the BOLT to remove it.

Do you have one?

Once you remove the bolt bring it to the hardware store and find a replacement.

But if it was mine I would just tighten the original bolt with the vicegrip.

Good luck!

yea the vice grip nothing. Had my guy roommate have a go at it with no luck. It's a dang tight bolt. The bottom 14mm bolt is super tight as well but not rounded.

[bronsin]

Yes the ones on an ECHO I bought for my son I could not get loose. We took it to a garage and told them just loosen it. They did and then we could tighten the belt.

[ezhacker1]

seriously if it's rounded, just get a bolt extractor, you torque in the loosening direction obviously counter clockwise, and the teeth bite into the rounded bolt and continue to do so to grip it while you loosen.

[ex-x-fire]

Try using a 6 point socket on that rounded bolt or specialty grip socket.

[beaker]

Originally Posted by thekatiel

Need some assistance.

Thought I could manage to replace my serpentine belt on my own but ended up rounding off the 12mm bolt. I went to Lowe's to see if I could get a replacement bolt for when I did get the rounded bolt off but they said I would need to know the size of the rest of the bolt. All I knew was that I used a 12mm wrench (and a non hexagon socket thing).

Does anyone know the exact size of the bolt? And the easiest way to get off the rounded bolt?

Bolt sizes on Toyota. They use 10, 12, 14, 17(i think), 19mm. With those 5 sizes, you can take a Toyota apart. I was a tool dealer for 12 years and called on several Toyota dealerships, and could never sell a whole set of sockets or wrenches to any tech that worked there. LOL.

As for the alternator adjustment bolt, it's a 12mm. For whatever reason, Toyota used a 8.8 grade bolt, which is very soft. I know this because I snapped mine off in the ear of the alternator, couldn't get it out, and finally had to buy an alternator, over a 12 cent bolt.

If it's rounded, the best thing to use to get it out is what they call a turbo or twist socket. It will destroy the bolt head getting the bolt out, but if it's rounded off anyway, who cares, just replace it.

Here's a link to what I'm talking about.

http://store.snapon.com/Twist-Shallo...m-P641935.aspx

You use to only be able to find them on the tool trucks, but now you can pretty much find them anywhere, IE parts stores, Lowes, Ace hardware etc.

[why?]

Just find a local body shop and let them take it off. It will take them 10 seconds and the dude will be laughing at you so much he won't charge you anything. totally worth it.

[bairjo]

Originally Posted by why?

Just find a local body shop and let them take it off. It will take them 10 seconds and the dude will be laughing at you so much he won't charge you anything. totally worth it.

I have done that ....except it was a busted off spark plug along the fire wall. The ride there was a little rough though...

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by ex-x-fire

Try using a 6 point socket on that rounded bolt or specialty grip socket.

Beautiful! +1!