Fred
Your not the first and wont be the last.
If there is enough of the tap protruding fron the swing arm you can
maybe cut a screwdriver slot using a 1 cutting wheel with a Dremel or
similar tool.
Sometimes you can tap it out, ( no pun intended) using a punch against
the flutes, enough to get a grip with something more substantial.
Good Luck
Lance Sandford in Oz
>
> Well...I feel like I just REALLY stepped in it.
>
> While carefully, slowly, tapping 10-32 threads in 1/2" thick aluminum,
> I've broken the tap.
>
> I needn't go into detail as to what I was attempting to accomplish,
> but it was in conjunction with providing bolts to the mono LG swing
> arm to which brackets supporting a portion of a fairing for the main
> wheel would attach.
>
> Not sure how to proceed, though I suspect I'm not the first to break a
> tap.
>
> I'm not optimistic of being able to drill out the tool steel of the
> broken tap, and even if that could be accomplished, my hunch is I'd
> end up having to use a larger bolt.
>
> One possibility would be to grind the portion of the embedded tap
> which is proud of the surface of the aluminum, alter the bends in the
> bracket, and drill a new hole (say) 2 diameters away from the existing
> partially-plugged hole.
>
> On the other hand, perhaps there is a well-recognized method for
> extracting the broken tap?
>
> Any suggestions?...anyone?
>
> Fred
> A194
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