Broken dropout adjustment screw removal

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Anyone sucessfully drilled one of these out of a steel frame or got any other suggestions?

 

[Cycleops]

We need a pic to see what you’re dealing with.

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Nothing to see really, hole through steel dropout filled with snapped adjuster screw.

 

[rogerzilla]

I take it there's nothing to grab with molegrips? Has it snapped inside, such that a new adjuster might turn against it and screw it out?

 

[C R]

Nothing to see really, hole through steel dropout filled with snapped adjuster screw.

What's the size of the screw? Something small like M3? It would probably be difficult to do with a hand drill without damaging the dropout.

 

[MichaelW2]

Is there a screwdriver slot on the other end? Can you make one?

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Unfortunately it has been broken flush with the frame front and back. I don't have a problem with it for my own use but if I decide to sell, it may be an issue. Thinking of putting frame in a workmate bench and going at it with a manual hand drill, as the manual pillar is long gone.

 

[midlife]

Frame builder for removal would be my choice

 

[T4tomo]

If the threads are OK a quick dab with a slow drill might make the broken off end unscrew itself (provided you have a drill running in the right direction - clockwise to screw its self out of the other end ) a good soak in GT85 first might help.

If it snapped because the threads were seized then forget the above

 

[Big John]

I drilled one out a few years ago. Vaguely remember it took a while. It was an old second hand bike so you may want to consider other options if it's an expensive bike, just in case. For what I had planned I didn't need to replace it. If you plan to replace it you'd need a very small tap to re-thread it.

 

[battered]

Something as small as this is difficult. I would start by trying to build a drilling jig so that the drill won't wander. You have Bob Hope and no hope of doing this with a handheld drill, the drill will flex or more likely your grip will wander and it will pick up on the junction between the drilling and the screw, because this is effectively softer, being partially fresh air. Once this happens you might be able to retap the new hole, if it's got enough structure to it, either to original size or one size up. Otherwise you are into drilling oversize, tapping and putting in a threaded insert, which is standard light engineering but requires a degree of skill, not to mention enough metal to hold the insert. If it's very small a frame builder might end up drilling the remains, filling it with braze and tapping that. It's non structural so screwing into braze will be acceptable and, unlike the original, it will never corrode in place.

Oh, don't forget Helicoiling.

 

[weareHKR]

Before you launch an attack on it, it might be worth soaking it in Plusgas for a day or so, then try tapping it lightly with something like a toffee hammer, probably cover the area with aluminium or brass to eliminate frame damage. if it frees it off, you may turn it out with a pick, like the Park Tool UP-1 or similar...

 

[Gixxerman]

Things to try in order of difficulty / risk of damaging the frame.
1. If any bolt is sticking out, flat it off with a file as this will stop the drill bit from walking off the centre. Then use a very sharp thin punch to mark the centre. Then get a left handed drill bit and drill out the centre of the bolt (obviously you'll need to run the drill anti-clockwise). This might spin the bolt out.
2. Drill the hole with a normal drill bit to as close as you can to the screw size (1mm under is normal). Then pick the thread out with a pick / needle nosed pliers. Then run a tap down the hole to chase the threads out.
3. Failing than drill the hole out to oversize and fit a helicoil insert of the correct size. This requires specialist tools so best take it to an engineering company.

 

[rogerzilla]

Spark erosion would do it, but at huge cost.

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Thanx everyone, on reflection and advice I think I can live with offending fragment for a rat build.