Broken starter bolt

I have taken every broken starter bolt out with an ice pick. They spin right out and drop in your hand in less than a minute. Easy peezy, unless you stick a drill bit in there and damage the threads, even a touch, then you have problems.

I got the bolt right out, backed out when I used the left handed drill bit after I centered punched it.

How do you use the ice pick to get a broken off starter bolt out? And are you just referring to a standard ice pick (long, slender, pointy piece of metal)? Or is there some tool called an ice pick that I'm not aware of.

Ando427 said:

How do you use the ice pick to get a broken off starter bolt out? And are you just referring to a standard ice pick (long, slender, pointy piece of metal)? Or is there some tool called an ice pick that I'm not aware of.

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No special tool, just an old ice pick. When the bolt breaks off it isn't bottomed out , proving it's the correct bolt. So it can turn out easily using a pick or left handed drill bit.

Ando427 said:

How do you use the ice pick to get a broken off starter bolt out? And are you just referring to a standard ice pick (long, slender, pointy piece of metal)? Or is there some tool called an ice pick that I'm not aware of.

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Hey Ando,

So what these guys are saying here is try to catch an edge of a non smooth broken bolt.. It usually doesnt shear off flat.. so use a tool and try to catch the edge and spin it out. If that doesnt work you can use bolt removal tools or left handed drill bits.. I dont like the cone shaped bolt removers.. This is the style that i use.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006YDQ812/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ahh, got it. Thanks guys! I should be taking off the starter today so I can take a look at the broken off section and hopefully I'll have a little bit that I can snag to turn it out instead of having to use a bolt extractor.

the reason why i also mentioned the kit that i use.. is that it has centering guides so you can clearly center a drill bit if you need to create more of a surface to work with.. the first time i did it i used a center punch and got close.. but the drill guides are quite helpful.

Well, my bolt seems to have broken off very cleanly. I couldn't find even the smallest should to grab onto, and it's deep up in the block. Looks like I'll be using a bolt extractor. Also, does anyone know the pn for the front bolt bracket? My starter is missing it, which is probably a big part of why this bolt sheared off.

Discontinued item. See if anyone offers you one. If not I have them. I had about 25 custom made at a machine shop. Send me a PM we can discuss a trade.

They are back in stock currently on amazon. Huge reason why you snapped a bolt.

I just went through the same thing after reading about starter brackets I went and looked at mine no bracket then I pushed on the starter it moved a bit I wondered if there was a crack
in the block so I started taking the bolts out one was broken and the other loose. Got the starter out no cracks but a broken bolt about an inch up in the hole I used a long thin screw driver to back it out
So now I need 2 new starter bolts and a bracket I am happy I checked it out could have been a lot worse.
BTW last week I had a broken bolt in the thermostat housing.. I have had this truck for about a month and everytime I go to do something it gets bigger. Its a real bolt breaker.

OGMurph said:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-GM-2...id=1499648242&sr=8-1&keywords=starter+bracket

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That is for the high torque starter.

OGMurph said:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-GM-2...id=1499648242&sr=8-1&keywords=starter+bracket

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Thats fine if you have a gear reduction starter. If you have a direct drive the bracket for the direct drive can be cut and used both ways. Good Luck. I was not trying to make a sale. I have them if you need them. If not all is well. Thank you.

Like Murph said, use a drill bushing so you don't mess up the threads. You can make your own with a pair of vise grips and an old deep well 1/4 inch socket.

cucvrus said:

Thats fine if you have a gear reduction starter. If you have a direct drive the bracket for the direct drive can be cut and used both ways. Good Luck. I was not trying to make a sale. I have them if you need them. If not all is well. Thank you.

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I think I found one for the direct drive starter, I'll try it out and if it doesn't fit I'll send you a PM. I appreciate the support!

Mg84648 said:

Like Murph said, use a drill bushing so you don't mess up the threads. You can make your own with a pair of vise grips and an old deep well 1/4 inch socket.View attachment 689133View attachment 689132

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That's a great idea! I'll definitely be doing that as well as picking up some carbide bits. I already broke one today, and that's when I decided to call it for the day. I spent all day the previous day getting my motorsickle back on the road so the broken bits were a good excuse to give myself a break for the night.

You do not need carbide bits on a starter bolt. You just need a good sharp quality bit and you need to let the drill bit do the drilling. Pushing harder does not make a dull bit drill any faster. It breaks bits. Drill bits have a short life span when you drill thru rust and uneven pressure and hi speed. I go thru a lot of drill bits. I never use a dull bit. It is the cause of most of drilling problems. I never had carbon or left handed bits. Again maybe I am Lucky. But I doubt it. I just learned the hard way and stuck to it. Good Luck. It is a simple task with the right sharp bit.

I will be in surgery for the next hour. I will be drilling the broken starter bolt out of the hole. I will report back later. No ice pickworked, My bolt extractor kit that centers the drill did not work, I bought a few other snake oil trick pieces over the years. They all failed. I am resolved to the 13/32" drill bit and an M10 X 1.50 Heli coil insert. Reporting back later. I wanted to read over all the options and came here.

cucvrus said:

I never had carbon or left handed bits. Again maybe I am Lucky. But I doubt it. I just learned the hard way and stuck to it. Good Luck. It is a simple task with the right sharp bit.

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OH man, you never used a left handed bit? You truly don't know what your missing. I have a set and they sometimes sit in the drawer for years on end UNTIL I need them and then each and every time there well worth what I paid. There not a magic wand and won't unscrew a rusted fastener but for an over torqued bolt it's great just center punch chuck up the bit and unscrew it done!