Ok, so I've changed the starter on my XJSC before, so I know what it entails. What I don't know is what you have to do when you have to change the starter again, forget that the top bolt is a 12 point bolt, put a six point socket on it and round it off. This is where I stand. All of this was done the night before we moved and I had to get it on the moving truck the next day. Needless to say I failed but got it on the truck anyway.

Anyone have a trick or thought for how to get the top bolt out? I know I can beat a smaller socket on, but I can't really get to it. I'm considering cutting a hole in the trans tunnel from the inside. Any other thoughts?

Thanks

Jeff

 

Oh, man. Tough break.

A hole in the trans tunnel beats pulling the motor. I can't think of any magic trick for this problem, off-hand...sorry.

Hopefully others will chime in with something helpful

Good luck
DD

 

I have a trick for "extreme" problems, but I'm not sure you can do it with this particular situation. I buy cheap sockets and extentions, and attach my welder to them so when you turn the welder on it welds to the bolt. Your clearance levels in there may make this impossible though, so I think I'd use an easy-out socket instead.

 

I think the tunnel option is the best bet for now. Besides, after you are done and cover the hole, no one will ever know it was there. That is about the only way to get at that bolt. You would have to be able to put a socket with an extension on the bolt and smack it hard enough to force the socket onto the bolt. I have seen some odd looking sockets that can remove stripped bolts. I think they are made by Kobalt and are available at Lowes or on E-Bay. But you will still have to get at them through the tunnel.
Schoe

 

Sears actually makes a socket for removing rounded bolts and they do work pretty good.

 

Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

 

use an impact gun with extensions, impact universal joints socket or rounded bolt remover like Irwin

And post a picture of the bolt when its removed

 

Wow fast forward 9 years and I got the rounded starter bolt out, pretty easily too. I tucked the jag away in the back of the garage and haven't touched it since. It sat back there for 11 years and became a storage shelf for the boxes we accumulated through the new online shopping trend. During the pandemic, I decided to sell some extra cars and crap and dig the XJSC out and get it running again. Apparently it took 11 years for a simple solution to occur to me... tin foil. If I put a piece of tin (aluminum) foil between the socket and bolt head it would take up the slop and break it free. It worked like a charm. In a snap it was loose and the starter was on the ground.

Here is a pic of the head, and side by side with its replacement.


Rounded starter bolt

Rounded next to a good bolt

 

Congrats!

Trying to visualize exactly now you used the foil (I'm assuming you meant aluminum foil rather than tin), it sounds like quite a neat trick.

 

Thanks, and yes, I did mean aluminum foil. I may have used "tin" because I was swiping on a tablet. I just wrapped a small piece of foil over the 12 point opening of the socket and pressed it over the head of the bolt and gave it a couple taps to make sure it was on. Then cranked on the ratchet and it popped free.


Wrap the socket

Foil, socket, u joint and extension in place

 

I'm actually thinking this aluminum foil trick could work on stripped trans oil pan bolts. Just wrap a little foil over the threads and try to install. I wish I'd thought of this a long time ago.

 

Also for Allen heads that get round off you can put a layer of paper, paper towel inside and insert the allen key and it will grip it.

 

Good tip. I'm gonna add this as an option for aluminum foil too.

I may just put a roll in my tool box.