Stuck bolt

[spread5150]

I was changing the idler wheel on this car and the lower idler wheel along with the new tensioner went in without a hitch.

The old upper idler wheel has been a real pain. The new replacement part came w a different bolt as I guess Mercedes moved away from the e40 bolt it came with. Not a lot of room to get a drill in there. The original bolt stripped instantly and Allen wrench just compounded it.

Any ideas ?

[BTLowry]

Can you get a pipe wrench on the head of that?

Maybe split that bearing with a cutoff wheel to get more room to grip?

[Walker]

Are you sure it's not left handed threads?

[Kingfisher789]

Can you get a pipe wrench on the head of that?

Maybe split that bearing with a cutoff wheel to get more room to grip?

That’s what I was thinking. Cut that pulley off.

[Kingfisher789]

Are you sure it's not left handed threads?

that ship has sailed!

[Abctx]

Realize you don’t have much space, so might not have enough room to use a small (say 3/4”) bimetal hole saw, to “core out” the central bolt from the rest of the pulley (don’t go too deep)?? Or, perhaps, a cutoff wheel, and just cut the front “face” off, so you can get most of the pulley off, leaving the bolt and some of the aluminum core, that you can grab on to with vise grips??

[60 Deluxe]

Weld a nut on it and then use a real wrench.

[Monark]

Rattle the crap out of it with an air chisel. I work on old 7.3 Ford diesels and the air chisel is my friend.

[Kingfisher789]

Pinpoint on a air hammer might work as soon as you know which way to go!

[skulleton]

He should know which way to go by referencing the the bolt on the new tensioner perhaps.

[spread5150]

Yea for sure it comes off lefty loose

[spread5150]

Pinpoint on a air hammer might work as soon as you know which way to go!

if I go get an air hammer am I just trying to turn it from the hole ?

[Kingfisher789]

if I go get an air hammer am I just trying to turn it from the hole ?

Yes. Grind a sharp point on a bit and it won’t take much. Maybe even use just a hammer at first. Once you crack it loose you might be able to spin it by hand.

[Monark]

Yes. Grind a sharp point on a bit and it won’t take much. Maybe even use just a hammer at first. Once you crack it loose you might be able to spin it by hand.

Or if that doesn't work, spade bit may bite on the OD. May have to grind a notch on the OD to give it somewhere to bite.

[TKC]

I always learn something from you guys on these threads. We got some down right smart and resourceful members here.