The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi Guys,
Tried to remove the water pump today from my Sprint.
Turned the nut on the pump to try and release the pump/get the nut out to use a slide hammer and the bolt sheared head has snapped clean off!!
Any ideas now how to get the pump out?
My luck..
Thanks,
Mark.

It is a left hand thread, so by turning it anti-clockwise you effectively over tightened it, hence why it sheered off.

You may be lucky and be able to drill it out - use a normal (RH) twist drill bit. Centre "pop" the sheared end as best you can and drill it. Start with 3mm, then go to 5mm. That should not encroach on the thread but the twisting force may well unscrew the remaining bit of the bolt. Put plenty of grease on the drill bit and on top of the impellor to trap the swarf.

Unfortunately, it's a left hand threaded bolt Mark, so you were trying to tighten it when it sheared!!

Fortunately, it's a left hand threaded bolt, so pack around the impeller with cloth to prevent swarf ingressing the block and use a centre punch and small drill bit to attempt to drill a hole centrally down the residual shaft of the bolt; you'll find the friction and heat will spin the remains out of the pump shaft.

I've used LH bolts here in Stourbridge

No grease on the drill bit, the friction heats the residual bolt and assists with its removal

Thanks guys, I'll have to give it go.
I realised what I'd done when I sat down to contact the forum.
I have real trouble orientating LH threaded bolts, it's a real problem for me.
I should have asked a friend to guide me, make sure I was doing it correctly.
Kicking myself. Thought it was all going so well.

I was turning this one the CORRECT way and it still snapped off! However, drilling it out turned out to be much easier than expected and the remains came out while I was drilling a 1/8" pilot hole. I had intended to use an Easy Out but didn't need to.

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your help, water pump now liberated from Dolly, what a b*tch that was.

Drilled a 3mm hole, then a 5mm hole as suggested, nut still stuck in pump, like it's fused in!
A friend opened the hole in the nut to around 6mm, still wouldn't budge, so used an Easy-out and his slide hammer which pulled the pump 3/4 out.
Block of wood on the impeller veins and hammer released the last of it.
That nut in there is well stuck.

Hopefully be back on the road very soon.