Page 1 of 2

Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:38 pm
by Jay71
I'm doing a bit of work on a T5 and whilst trying to get the old exhaust off, the swing arm bolt head sheared clean off,
this is because the bolt is seized solid through the casing arm.
Engine is out of frame, have tried heat, have tried loads of WD40, have tried a punch and big lump hammer!
How do I get the bugger out? Will it need drilled?
Image
Image

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:41 pm
by Snapper
Similar thing happened with my T5 mate...bolt was seized solid and tried everything to get it to move.

Quick fix, while the engine was still in the scoot, was to just partially drill the bolt and then put a tap in it to enable me to secure my exhaust (worked great).

As soon as I had the engine out at a later date though I drilled the f*cker out as it was p*ssing me off knowing it was still in there :lol:

I just worked up in bit size until the seized bolt collapsed. Took about 20 mins.

Don't forget to lube the new exhaust bolt when you replace it to prevent it seizing again ;)

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:51 pm
by Jay71
Cheers, it's not my scooter, if it was it would be well lubed!
Scary thing is, the last ones to work on the engine were main dealers!

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:55 pm
by GLscoot
as you have a bit of thread have you tried two nuts trick and a bit of heat. sometimes its best to add heat, let it cool down and more heat, cool down and so on. make sure its cooled down properly.

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:57 pm
by Jay71
I'll give that a go before turning to the drill, thanks.

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:02 pm
by Shipleystevep
Try getting it warm and a good dollop of PlusGas on it.

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:10 pm
by Jay71
Haven't heard of that before, must get some.

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:20 pm
by bristolmod
Good stuff Plusgas- used the same tin for the last 10 years or so. Freed up everything it was thrown at when all other stuff failed.

Chris

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:24 pm
by Yanker
Is the case sripped down?

Another option: Immerse the swing arm in a vat of diesel for a few days (eg. oblong plant pot). Clean off diesel thoroughly and GLscoot method it as above. Only weld a nut (thoroughly penetrated - decent heat - maybe countersink the nut to get more area ) Give it a few sharp blows with a heavy hammer to get it moving. Cut off the remainder of the hex head that may not be totally round, and drift out with same hammer and a suitably dimensioned and hardened punch. And good luck with that.

I cannot vouch for the method, had to drill one out of a T5 once also - suggested method would be much less work :!: and what I would do in the same circumstance 'this/next' time arround.

Cheers

Re: Vespa exhaust bolt seized and snapped

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 8:33 pm
by ducksta
take it to your local engineers they will press it out last one cost me a tenner worth it