Screw extractor

[Donald]

I need to extract the remaining part of the blue plastic drain plug on the left in the picture that is still stuck in the exhaust elbow of my boat engine.

One is broken off on each side of the engine.

I do not have a lot of clearance going straight down so the screw extractor cannot be very long.

I bought some screw extractor bits on Amazon that were short in length. Compared to the Irwin screw extractor on the right that is the normal length.

Unfortunately the "thread" of the screw extractor bits (center) is too fine compare to the Irwin on the tight. The Irwin screw extractor works fine (but too long). The screw extractor bits don't grab properly and just slips.

All of this was tested on the handle that is broken off. I have not tried the screw extractors on the broken piece still in the exhaust elbow.

Also are two pictures of the exhaust elbow, See where the blue part is. The pictures are before the blue wing-nut like handle snapped off. There is a little blue just below an almost horizontal hose.

My plan is to buy a single screw extractor at Ace and cut/grind it to length and use it with a small vise-grip. Are they hardened steel? So I need to grind and won't be able to cut it.

Is there any reason to keep these screw extractor bits with a fine thread or are they basically designed poorly? Return it? Was $20.

 

[Trav]

All I can think of is cut the long one that fits down.

 

[atikovi]

blue plastic drain plug on the left in the picture that is still stuck in the exhaust elbow of my boat engine.

Plastic in an exhaust part? I was going to say burn it out with a flame.

 

[Donald]

Plastic in an exhaust part? I was going to say burn it out with a flame.

In a boat engine the exhaust manifold and exhaust riser are typically water cooled.

 

[atikovi]

OK, if it's screwed into steel or cast iron, a flame should still work. Or drill it and get the remains out left in the threads with a thread chaser. Should take seconds to drill through plastic.

 

[vavavroom]

It's a plastic plug. I'd heat a Torx or star bit or just a flat-headed screwdriver and ram it in there. Once the plastic has hardened I'd expect to be able to unscrew the broken plug.

 

[wings&wheels]

Thoe short extractors are excellent on metal fasteners, soft plastic not so much. Does the blue plug thread into what appears to be a plastic tee fitting? If so, then be very careful with heat, but otherwise vavavroom has the best approach.

Having had this happen, I put a little Girling rubber lube or good silicone grease on the thread and o ring each time I remove them.

 

[spasm3]

If Vavavrooms idea does not work, i'm thinking a splined extractor would be better.

 

[Donald]

This little tool tool worked fine to get out the broken off part of the plastic drain plug. I was able to put a lot of upward force on phillips head end with my hand on the exhaust manifold. The broken off piece did not really seem tight in the threaded hole. Maybe the plastic drain plugs were ready to go from age and heat.

I brought some screw extractors, vise grip, cordless grinder to cut off part of the screw extractor (if needed) to my boat.