I'm screwed...BUT I WIN!!!

[biguglyman]

Went to install my new luggage rack and despite my best efforts not to, I ended up rounding out the hex hole on one of them.  How the hell am I going to get that f#$^er out of there!?

[Ricky-D]

Vice-Grip.

***

[biguglyman]

Tried that.  That's how the hole got rounded out.  Not enough screw head to get a vise-grip on.  NONE of those bast%^$s want to come out!  Only got one removed successfully.  Othere ones are trying to round out too.  AAAGGGHHHHH!!!  This is why I hate working on my own crap.  Always something to make an easy ten minute job into a hair-pulling disaster.

[LinnB]

Tried that.  That's how the hole got rounded out.  Not enough screw head to get a vise-grip on.  NONE of those bast%^$s want to come out!  Only got one removed successfully.  Othere ones are trying to round out too.  AAAGGGHHHHH!!!  This is why I hate working on my own crap.  Always something to make an easy ten minute job into a hair-pulling disaster.

Have you tried a torx head?  Sometimes they will grip the rounded out hole and put some WD40 on them since it sounds like they're stuck.

[slider]

what worked for me--I put the correct bit in them and tapped them 3-4 times pretty sharply with a hammer and they finaly turned loose--hope this helps-good luck

[biguglyman]

One of them is already rounded out real bad.  Probably going to have to drill it out and use an easy-out or something. 

[LAnthony]

You could cut a slot in it with a dremel and use an impact driver.

[Gryphon Rider]

If you're stuck after trying previous suggestions, buy an Alden Grabit tool set.
http://www.aldn.com/index.php


I used this tool to remove my front brake pad retention pin as described in my post:
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,27923.0.html

[biguglyman]

Alden Grabit tool set.

As it turns out, that's exactly what I did.  Still fought me tooth and nail every step of the way and required extra drilling etc. Also had to replace the bolts.  Used some stainless ones from the hardware store until I can get some pretty chrome ones.

FINAL SCORE:    Biguglyman - 1 rack on
                       Val           - four bolts off

I WIN!

                   

[doubletee]

I always did like a happy ending. (ah, I tee'd that one up. No comments from the peanut gallery!)