Installing the Irate grill

SoLo · 08-17-2010, 04:20 PM

I was installing my new Irate grill last night and ran into what I thought was or gonna be a pretty big issue. The head on the lower bolt on the brake side of the grill was so soft that the wrench would not hold; just keep slipping off and rounding the head off so I could not get it loosened. Other side was a nice bolt and loosened with no problems. Has anyone else ran into that problem and if so, what was the solution. I tried to get the box end of the wrench on it but not enough room to get wrench between the bolt head and the radiator.

Been thinking all day what i might try to loosen the bolt so it will break loose.
Gonna put some liquid break loose on it. MIght try a punch and tap on it to see if it will break loose. As a last resort i guess i can use vise grips but i know that will ruin the head.

any ideals ?

Fishman · 08-17-2010, 04:23 PM

Use some PB Plaster on it- let it work in then tap the bolt a bit. Good luck!

Flying B · 08-17-2010, 05:07 PM

They are really soft bolts. Mine started to round off pretty easy also. However, I did get them off without too much damage. But the next time I work on that bolt, I may just use a long nose vise grip right from the start. I'm not sure if teeth marks are any worse than rounded heads on bolts that do not show.

bigmetal · 08-17-2010, 05:41 PM

no offense, but make sure you're using metric wrenches. i grabbed SAE by mistake once and tried to half-ass it anyways and rounded off one of my bolts on the exhaust bracket...

CBSIMONSEZ · 08-17-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigmetal

no offense, but make sure you're using metric wrenches. i grabbed SAE by mistake once and tried to half-ass it anyways and rounded off one of my bolts on the exhaust bracket...

This was exactly what i was gonna say. There is a slight chance that they did cross thread the bolt at Honda ... but i would go with the correct wrench size.

X_KIOWA_X · 08-17-2010, 09:18 PM

Mine were pretty stiff to break loose, but luckily I haven't ran into the issues like some others have had of soft bolts <knocks on wood>. I bought and installed the Skull grill cover.

WildBill · 08-17-2010, 09:47 PM

Yeah, had some issues with that bottom right screw being on there super tight, good luck

SoLo · 08-17-2010, 09:53 PM

no offense taken.. yeah i was useing a 12mm wrench which is the correct one. I sprayed it with some Marvel mystery oil and some other oil called break off i had. gonna let it soak till i get home tomorrow night and will check it.
I'll check the parts place tomorrow for some of that PB Blaster stuff; got to get some goo off anyways.

i'll keep you informed on how it goes. Maybe it will help someone else that will have the same problem.

thanks guys

jaredpilot · 08-18-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoLo

I was installing my new Irate grill last night and ran into what I thought was or gonna be a pretty big issue. The head on the lower bolt on the brake side of the grill was so soft that the wrench would not hold; just keep slipping off and rounding the head off so I could not get it loosened. Other side was a nice bolt and loosened with no problems. Has anyone else ran into that problem and if so, what was the solution. I tried to get the box end of the wrench on it but not enough room to get wrench between the bolt head and the radiator.

Been thinking all day what i might try to loosen the bolt so it will break loose.
Gonna put some liquid break loose on it. MIght try a punch and tap on it to see if it will break loose. As a last resort i guess i can use vise grips but i know that will ruin the head.

any ideals ?

I ran into the same exact issue a week ago when installing it. I went to Lowe's and purchased a flexible racheting rubber closed ended wrench (12mm.) This was a miracle wrench that solved the problem. No more stripping! I sprayed a little WD40 prior to attempting the removal. I also had to use an additional wrench to push the radiator just slightly out of the way to allow access to the bolt. I highly recommend buying one of these special wrenches! I think I payed about $10 for it.

MilesB · 08-18-2010, 01:07 PM

I ran into the same problem last year. I stopped just short of rounding out the head and was able to finish the job after using some of the PB Blaster, vise grips, and a rubber mallet. Sprayed the stuff on several times and let it set in for about 20 mins. The rubber ratcheting wrench sounds like a good way to go.