Axel shaft removal

[George Selby]

At 12:01 PM 11/14/2011, you wrote:
>My idea was to saw the heads off and then try unscrewing
>tehm with vise grips ...  but it sounds like a doubtful plan.

I've done this, not too bad if you can get a cut off tool in 
there.  I've also grabbed them from the outside with vice grips and 
been able to turn them.  Once you loosen the pressure on them they 
usually come out with no problem.

The secret to prevent problems is to clean the grime out of the hole 
in the middle of the bolt, and then tap your triple square tool into 
place, making sure it's fully seated before you apply torque to 
it.  Sometime you can even salvage a bolt you thought was stripped by 
getting the triple square tool farther into the bolt.

Also, I've had better luck with the separate triple square tool that 
you slip a socket or wrench over as opposed to the all in one socket 
style triple square tool.


George Selby