Marks69BB

I had a rusty screw I had to drill out on one of my removable rear window locks. I was retapping the upside-down hole when the tap broke off in the hole. Anyone have any tips to get it out? There is not enough of it left to allow visegrips to grab it and it is too hard to drill it out! :mad


[Modified by Marks69BB, 12:24 PM 6/22/2004]

My79Vette

Sounds like you bottumed out the tap. If you managed to get it threaded,you may have some luck getting it out. I've made several little tools for this problem. I've taken 2 or 3 small nails and tack welded them together so they would fit down the inside of the broken tap. I've also been able to remove some with just a single nail. Just back it out far enough, then grab it. Be patient!!!

wugak

Is it a part you can remove? If so then a machine shop may be able to drill it out with a carbide end mill ir other special tool. If its real bad you may be able to burn it out with an EDM also at a good machine shop. (Electric Discharge machining... I think) They can burn anything out.

Philvet

Ask aperson who works at a machine shop if can borrow or rent a tap extracter should'nt cost that much a couple of $ or beers. Wilton is the company that makes them

toyvet1

I used a dremel with the small diamond tips, slow but cut through the tap....

Love My 72 and 77

I threw it through the fricken wall

80TexasC3

Did the same thing on my new Performer manifold. Used a dremel and created a hole for a small size tap to extract old tap and bolt.

I was real dissapointed in the quality of the taps from Autozone. Switched to a set from sears and havn't looked back.

FEDX

A dremel with a carbide burr or a die grinder to cut the tap up as much as possible,then a scibe or pick to get the pieces out.If the taps big enough,after doing some cutting,Ive had luck shattering the old tap witha center punch before also.That probaly depends greatly on the quality of the tap,though.

WeasleVette454

First of all, if you don't have the patience then take it to a pro. Removing a broken tap is at best tedious. We use carbide burrs at work to perform this task. If ALL ELSE fails, you can shatter the tap with a good center punch and hammer. I have used that last ditch method with a resonable amount of success without destroying the hole. Just clean the threads up when you're done. But above all else, patience.

Good Luck

Weasle

Michel B

Go out and buy the tap extractor,, save yourself a headake,, good luck, not a fun thing to happen.

ddecart

I broke a tap off in my engine block. Borrowed a Wilton tap extractor and it worked great. FAR easier than trying to drill it out or something like that.

Tom454

If it's a blind hole, and the tap is tightly bottomed in the hole, then a tap extractor probably will not work. It will just snap off like the tap did. -Probably-. Depends on how tight the tap is stuck.

If it's a "thru hole", then there are several mechanical ways to get it out, several of which have already been mentioned.

What size is the tap?

1/4" and above can sometimes be worked out with an "awl" type tool and a LOT of patience. Smaller ones are more difficult to get a bite on.

If it's in aluminum (or pot metal), it can be more difficult because the tap really digs into the aluminum and doesn't let go once it's bottomed.

norvalwilhelm

Most tapes are almost impossible to get out without destroying the workpiece.
I use a EDM and it eats the tape out without leaving a trace.
Look in the yellow pages or check some local machine shops. They would know someone who has a EDM and it is effortless for them to remove the tap.
I have one and have removed lots of taps for people.

darrentpi

I used a dremel, and grinded a small slot, to fit a screwdriver in.
DM

Jim-K

Taps are very brittle, sometimes you can pound on it and it will crumble...

A C

If I am thinking of the right thing, you are talking about one of the two holes that bolts the latch to the car body. It is basically a piece of metal embedded in the fiberglass of the body if I remember correctly. I am sure it wouldn't be a good thing to pound on it with very much force. I would think trying to put a slot in the tap and unscrew it would be the best bet, unless you can weld a bolt head to it (if there is any metal outside the hole). What a crappy place to break a tap off in! If it's any consolation, I am having a bad day working on my 69 too.

Kid Vette

Sheesh Norval, you have an EDM in your home shop? That has got to be the most complete home shop in existence!! Just curious, what kind of EDM do you have?