Rounded allen cap - (down a hole)

[mikerecike]

Bolt holding all the plastic strimmer cowling on. Down a hole so tricky to access. Any tips? Thanks folks.

[Richard 1234]

4 minutes ago, mikerecike said:

Bolt holding all the plastic strimmer cowling on. Down a hole so tricky to access. Any tips? Thanks folks.

Have you tried jamming a big star driver on it. Sometimes they will grab on for long enough 

[PhillH]

Hi, bit brutal but try knocking a “old” torx bit in. Something slightly bigger than the Allan key. The shock usually help release it too. If you can, try pushing directly down on it whilst undoing it to. For example if using a ratchet push down on the mechanism whilst ratcheting so the torx does not go over to one side.

[mikerecike]

1 minute ago, Richard 1234 said:

Have you tried jamming a big star driver on it. Sometimes they will grab on for long enough 

If it was into steel I'd go to town but A. It's buried down a plastic / flammable hole, & B. It's screwed into a probably very soft alloy above the cylinder head :0 

[mikerecike]

1 minute ago, PhillH said:

Hi, bit brutal but try knocking a “old” torx bit in. Something slightly bigger than the Allan key. The shock usually help release it too. If you can, try pushing directly down on it whilst undoing it to. For example if using a ratchet push down on the mechanism whilst ratcheting so the torx does not go over to one side.

cheers - gotta do something that doesn't shock downwards too much as it's seated in soft chinese alloy probably

[Ratman]

As above, use a male torx/spline/ribe socket, failing that its a modify your plastic cover outcome ?

[mikerecike]

1 minute ago, Ratman said:

As above, use a male torx/spline/ribe socket, failing that its a modify your plastic cover outcome ?

cheers Ratman - when I read 'modify', in my head I'm hearing 'butcher' - will get more serious with the torx / spline options - ta

[aspenarb]

If you are not in a hurry just araldite the allen bit into the cap screw and forget about it for a day. If its not seized in there it will undo.

 

Bob

[PhillH]

cheers - gotta do something that doesn't shock downwards too much as it's seated in soft chinese alloy probably

No need to get the lump hammer on it, just enough for the torx to dig in and grip.

[mikerecike]

4 minutes ago, aspenarb said:

If you are not in a hurry just araldite the allen bit into the cap screw and forget about it for a day. If its not seized in there it will undo.

 

Bob

interesting! - cheers