-1

Found a weird trick for a stripped bolt on a Cessna 172's cowling hinge

Had a stripped 1/4-28 bolt holding the lower cowling hinge on a 172. Couldn't get a grip with any extractor. Out of ideas, I grabbed a flat punch and a small hammer. I tapped the edge of the bolt head at an angle, just enough to start it turning. It walked right out after about 20 careful taps. Has anyone else had to get creative with a stuck fastener on a cowling?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_thea5d ago

Is it really that big a deal to just tap it out? Sounds like a normal stuck bolt to me.

dylanh975d ago

Ever try heating the hinge with a heat gun first? That little bit of expansion can break the corrosion loose without needing to beat on it.