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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
Topics49,871
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,684 Likes: 413
Needs to Get Out More!
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Needs to Get Out More!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,684 Likes: 413 |
It's amazing how drilling down the middle of a seized screw or thin shaft allows the outer remaining part to collapse slightly. It often then just twists out with the drill bit itself.
Richard
2018 Roadster 3.7
1966 Land Rover S2a 88
2024 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
1945 Guzzi Airone
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,539
Talk Morgan Expert
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Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,539 |
I think the heat or drilling it out also expands then contracts the fastener, also helping things out!
kirkusblog.com
2016 M3W John A Prestwich Special
1952 Ford 8N
1968 Honda CL175,and 2018 Ural Retro
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 64
Just Getting Started
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Just Getting Started
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 64 |
I have just removed mine to check. There were not difficult to remove, but even so I thought I could feel some rounding of the internal hex by the way the key tended to jam. Maybe they are not high grade material, which would make them easier to drill
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3 |
Sod's law usually engages itself when removing recalcitrant bolts.
At least it did when I was trying to remove the 3/8 BSP fusible plug from my traction engine boiler a few weeks back.
So, bolt head chewed up (tried Metrinch socket)- drilled out - screw extractor inserted - but turning forces too close to fracturing the extractor (not a good idea) - drilled out up to near pitch diameter - still wouldn't come out - TC dental cutter in Dremel to just on the pitch diameter - finally it came out.
The air was blue!
Tim
Last edited by Tim W; 04/11/16 08:28 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 64
Just Getting Started
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Just Getting Started
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 64 |
Interesting Tim. But I thought that fusible plugs were meant to blow if the boiler overheated. So wasn't heat the way to remove it?
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3 |
Well no. In an emergency, the lead core in the plug melts and the boiler steam put out the fire if there is a lack of water above the lead. I needed to remove the plug to check it, that being good practice on an annual basis. Local heating with a torch might have helped shift it (would certainly melt the lead) but bear in mind that when running normally the fire itself can be white hot, so probably unlikely to make much difference.
I have now got a BSPT (tapered) plug to put in the re-tapped hole in the spring. The engine is all tucked up for the winter now anyway...
Tim
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,947
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,947 |
Tim what is the engine? Long been my dream to own one but likely to stay that way. A photo would be good.
Tim
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 402 Likes: 3 |
Here you go Tim. Taken at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last summer. 4" scale.  Perhaps not quite so many as the Kens, but there do seem to be a few Tims on this forum... Tim
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