tips for stuck bolt?

[jacksplat]

Tried to change my oil today, but apparently he-man worked on my bike last time and the oil drain bolt is f-ing impossibly tight. any tips on how to get it loose?

[blue tiger]

That could be a tough one. Penetrating oil maybe along with a little tapping on it with a tool. I'm not sure about heating it up given it's location. I guess you could use a soldering iron on it to get the area around the bolt hot but I'm unsure of this also. Good luch and keep us posted.

[He Man]

Whatd i do to whos what now?

I didnt work on your bike.

[Ddan]

Tried to change my oil today, but apparently he-man worked on my bike last time and the oil drain bolt is f-ing impossibly tight. any tips on how to get it loose?

What are you using?  Make sure the hex is fully into the recess and put a breaker bar on it.  It should move.

[kenthecarp]

I know this sounds stupid, but it easy to do.
Make sure you're pulling in the right direction.
If your on the right side of the bike pull toward the rear of the bike.
Upside down bolts continue to catch me.

[uclabiker06]

Make sure the hex is fully into the recess and put a breaker bar on it.  It should move.

+1

[Ducnial]

If you're sure it going in the right direction (righty tighty- leftly loosey) here's what I'd do. 

Plan A
1. Order a new hex plug if its rounded.
1. Make sure you are using a metric hex wrench.  If  its cheap  it will either bend or round out the hex opening even more. 
2. If the hex opening is already rounded out, some people on this forum claim sticking a wet wrench end in some sand adds grip and takes up slop, I'd try that but prior.
3. Using a hammer (put it up on a stand for as much clearance as possible) give the plug cap a nice square rap or two.  Getting at it square will be tricky so consider placing a metal plate or similar seperator on top of the bolt so as to keep the impact force square and not damage the plug.
4. Now tap the allen key into the hex opening and go after it with the hex key.  Ideally you'd to use a hex key socket on a 3/8 drive and using the hammer tap it loose similar to a impact wrench.  Otherwise get a small piece of pipe or tubing to add leverage to hex wrench. Done correctly you will hear and feel a really loud snap as the plug breaks loose, its that tight when tighten to specs.

Plan B (since Plan A did not work and now the hex opeing is really rounded out.)
1. Order a new hex plug and get a new hex key wrench.
2. Get a easy-out that is larger than the hex key opeing but smaller than the plug thread, I'd get a couple sizes.  Using the easy-out's suggested drill diameter  drill the plug completly through.
3. Wait for the oil to drain..
4. Go after it with the easy-out.  If the easy-out is too small and fails loosen it, jump to next larger size but dont go near than the plug's thread diameter 22mm or 12mm depending on your bike.
5. Assuming you were successful toss the oil (sorry) and install the new plug.

Tightening torque is somewhat controversial    http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=9454.0  Use you best judgment based on what you went through. 

Good Luck..

[jacksplat]

Awesome - thanks for all the help. Definitely turning in the right direction. I made sure like 6 times. My plan right now is to get a hex driver set for a wrench so I can get enough leverage. If not, it's easy out time!

[DarkStaR]

Awesome - thanks for all the help. Definitely turning in the right direction. I made sure like 6 times. My plan right now is to get a hex driver set for a wrench so I can get enough leverage. If not, it's easy out time!

You never mentioned the the bolt was stripped, so why the hell would you use an easy out. 

Go buy some good tools, and put a little muscle on it.

With the right tools, I could get that m'fer off, or strip it in less than 1 minute.

If it ain't stripped, or off, your not trying hard enough.

[Rameses]

I know this sounds stupid, but it easy to do.
Make sure you're pulling in the right direction.
If your on the right side of the bike pull toward the rear of the bike.
Upside down bolts continue to catch me.

Even if his ratchet's in the 6 o'clock position?

[EEL]

I agree with the penetrating oil as the first step. Being the cheap bastard that I am, I would use the bikes own thermal expansion as a means to your goal. Here's the order in how you should do it

1) Go to your local Fry's, Office Depot,etc. and buy a 3 dollar can of compressed air duster. This is the stuff that IT folk use to clean computers blow dust off of stuff. Make sure you get one with the long thin plastic straws that allow you to get into narrow spaces.

2) Run the bike till its mega hot.

3) Apply penetrating oil, the hotter the bike the more penetrating capability the oil will have. Let it sit for like 5 mins.

4) Most people dont realize that if you turn one of these cans upside down, the volitility of the liquid compound will sustain a constant stream on frozen compressed liquid. Turn the can upside down and spray inside the hex portion of the drain bolt. DO this for a minute or so. Try not to freeze anything but the bolt you want the motor to stay hot. You want to act FAST and wrench on the bolt within seconds of doing this to maximize your chances of breaking it loose

The temperature differential has giving me a slight advantage in the past in similar circumstances. If it doesnt, your only out 3 bucks so no big deal.. 

[A.duc.H.duc.]

Even if his ratchet's in the 6 o'clock position?

lol... perfect comment from the hyperretard...

[greenmonster]

If nothing else works, the C-Macgyver/woodshed fix:

Large screwdriver on the edge + hammer.
Not so clean but works, dunnit.

[Rameses]

lol... perfect comment from the hyperretard...

It's just always been a pet peeve of mine when people try to assign a left/right direction to a rotational movement.