Broken Tap

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Broken Tap
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 12:36 pm:

OK... How do you remove a broken tap?

(!^$$((++)(@!&) and GRRRRRR


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 12:37 pm:

I was re-tapping the screw holes in the windshield on the 1915 so not OT.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 12:58 pm:

John
Would you please put your last sentence in English, my translator couldn't handle it.
Grin, Grin

(!^$$((++)(@!&) and GRRRRRR Translator no compendia.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 01:04 pm:

Can't Bob. This is a "family friendly" website.

;)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 01:19 pm:

I have a broken tap too...now I have to buy my beer in bottles!

Taps are very hard if not impossible to drill. I think there was a post recently that suggested you tack weld a nut or bolt to the end and try to turn it out with a socket or wrench.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 01:27 pm:

The only think I drink that comes in bottles is bourbon. :-)

I agree with the "drilling" response and unfortunately there isn't any portion of the tap sticking out to tack weld to.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 01:51 pm:

John, you have my sympathy. I don't recall a good solution. I have several parts with taps broken off in them. If the tap is broken off a piece that slides into the frame you should be able to slide it out and replace it.
Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Zibell on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 02:14 pm:

Take the windshield frame to a machine shop. They will use a carbide bit to remove the broken tap. It will cost you their time and a few carbide bits.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 02:25 pm:

Thanks guys. The never ending saga continues...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter C. Strebeck on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 02:32 pm:

Use a tap extractor. They are made for two, three and four flute taps. Any good machine tool supply house should have them (locally or on-line).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter C. Strebeck on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 02:36 pm:

Here is a random photo of a set of tap extractors.

extractor


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 02:37 pm:

John
What part were you working on and can it be removed and replaced. If it is one of the inserts
I'm sure one of us might have one and could donate it.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Noller on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 03:55 pm:

John:

You can drill them out if you can find a store that can sell you a "carbide spade drill" the proper size. We drill out taps in our shop with them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 07:49 pm:

Talk to the local machine shops. They should be able to direct you to someone who can "EDM" it out near you


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 08:33 pm:

Take a punch and drive it through and then chase the threads CAREFULLY next time. If theres a modicum of talent around, a single PFFFFT with a small cutting torch will do the trick as well. When the barrel comes out of the frame you can fill it with weld and re-drill if you really feel its necessary.
Broken tap extractors work about 50/50 if youre really patient. As in tapping, the trick is to get it reversed to break the chip off BEFORE you break the tap off!.
Put a stud in the glass screw retaining hole and pull the liner out for additional repairs. ws

[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2u9kguf.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/21dooyq.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2eai4a1.jpg[/IMG]


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 10:49 pm:

Bob I was working on the windshield... the lower portion attached to the cowl. The tap broke off in the insert where the screw goes for the windshield retainer clip.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Henrichs on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 05:25 am:

John,

Unless the insert is really stuck in with rust you should be able to remove it from the window channel. I just put in a longer bolt on the side where the hinge attaches and tap on the bolt to get it out. Than replace with another insert from a junk window frame. Hope that helps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 11:57 am:

Dennis,

Do you mean drive the insert farther into the channel and "top it" with a new insert?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 12:14 pm:

Easy way. If it's a three flute tap use three wires, if it's a four flute use two or four. If you have spring wire it works best. Cut pieces of wire 3 inches long a size that will fit in the flutes. Stick the pieces in the flutes. Chuck the wire in your cordless drill as close as you can get to the broken tap. Put the drill in reverse and back the tap out. Works about 9 times out of ten or more. Simple, quick and cheap.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jay - In Northern California on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 12:28 pm:

Cool Beans Stan!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 01:17 pm:

John
Is this what you need, I think the insert for the top and bottom windshield is the same.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 03:49 pm:

John, I think Dennis means to screw a bolt in the side where the hinge bolts on and tap it to loosen the insert up.
Then remove the bolt and pull the insert out.
Stan's method sounds good to me...worth a try.
You're a pretty clever guy Stan!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. J. "Art" Bell on Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 04:57 pm:

Be sure to use a little 'tapping fluid' before you try to unscrew the broken tap.
RapidTap works wonders when tapping steel.
I've had small taps stuck to the point that I didn't dare turn them either way for
fear of breaking the tap, and a drop of RapidTap worked it's magic.
Be sure to keep the container capped - it evaporates very quickly.

http://www.relton.com/cutting_fluids.html

You will likely have to find it at an industrial supply.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 12:17 pm:

John
Have you been able to get it out or get it fixed in some way?

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 12:35 pm:

In the absence of some purpose-made tapping fluid any kind of oil is better than nothing.
That petcock on the side of your oil pan will give you a few drops of tapping fluid.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Monday, October 28, 2013 - 02:20 pm:

How about a pair of spring clip (snap ring) retainer pliers which come in a variety of types and sizes. When you squeeze, they open and the two long prongs should fit down into the flutes on each side of the tap so the you can remove the tap by gently twisting it out. The prongs on the cheap pliers will just bend. The better ones are hardened. Jim Patrick



Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jeremy Brockhouse on Thursday, October 31, 2013 - 03:47 am:

I've had good luck over the years with tap extractors. If you didn't want to spend the money on then, you could use 2 small rods that run along the flutes and a vise grip to turn them. Same concept as the extractors.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Husted on Thursday, October 31, 2013 - 04:32 am:

John look up EDM tap removal on the internet or look it up in yellow pages, here is one I found
Jerry's broken drill and tap removal 714 836 6824
located in Santa Ana, Ca. There should be one in Wash. A good machine shop should have a EDM
machine or you could make one. EDM stands for
Electric Discharge Machining. Mike


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 11:26 am:

Hi Guys,

Problem solved. I purchased a tap extractor from Tacoma Screw (not what you are thinking) and it worked like a champ. Never seen or even heard of one before but I am sold on them!!

I didn't have any of the materials floating around mentioned above so that is the reason I purchased the extractor.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Shirley on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 12:07 pm:

Poor mans tap extractor. Take a bottom hole tap of the same size and screw on two nuts. Screw the tap in the hole and line the flutes up with the broken tap. Use the wire from a push pull cable to slide in the flutes of the new and broken tap. Leave one nut at the top of the new tap and screw the other down to the surface. Back out the two taps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 01:47 pm:

John,

Glad to hear you got the problem solved. Would it be possible for you to post a picture of your tap extractor?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 02:05 pm:

Bob,

It seems you should be able to use the top (broken off) portion of the tap to do this too. Neat idea that I hadn't heard/thought of.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ivan Warrington on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 02:14 pm:

Here are the instructions for the Walton Tap extractors.

http://www.waltontools.com/products/remvtap.htm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Stan Howe Helena, Montana on Friday, November 01, 2013 - 03:48 pm:

That's exactly what chucking three or four wires -- however many flutes there are in the tap -- up in a drill chuck does, takes about 30 seconds and the broken tap is out. If you have a drill with the impact or slip clutch feature you can set it for very low slip rate and it will rattle the broken tap right out.


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