Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Broken Bolt on Fuel Rail-Help
From:Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Date:Sun, 5 Oct 2008 16:05:05 -0700

hi Michael,
I imagine this is the one small 10 mm hex head screw on the side of the
intake manifold ?
one thing I might do it take just those two runners off the engine, so I can
put it in a vice while I drill on it.
What I usually do is try to center punch it dead on center - sometimes I
might grind it flat to facilitate doing that,
then drill it out with a small drill bit,
then successively bigger.......until sometimes  just the treads are left,
and I pick those out. If I need to I clean up the threaded hole with a tap.

bad michael.
There must be 10,000 times I thought I could make something that was working
'just a little better' and wished I'd left it alone.
Personally, I recommend removing the crimp type clamps and replacing them
with very high quality small screw clamps, so you can check their tightness
now and then.  I haven't found that the stock fuel hose particularly
deteriorates - maybe some right at the ends, but otherwise it's pretty tough
stuff.
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Sullivan" <sandwichhead@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 4:40 AM
Subject: Broken Bolt on Fuel Rail-Help

> OK...Switched out new fuel hoses and FI seals in the engine compartment
> yesterday. All went well until reinstalling left side fuel rail. I
> over-torqued and sheared off the bolt. Went out and bought a new drill at
> Sears and a few bits and a flexible/bendable extension at Northern Tool
> and
> Harbour Freight.  Can't seem to drill into the sheared bolt too well in
> order to get the Screw-out in. Will be heading to Lowes when they open and
> try to get a better bit.  Any other suggestions?
>
> --
> Michael in San Antonio
> 91GL AT 'Gringo'