Just great

Jareth

Jareth

Goblin Guru
Was trying to use I guess a tap to clean out the threads of the headlight mounting thread and this snapped off. Size 3/8 X 16

So I guess I now need to drill it out and re-thread it. Can anyone direct me to best product on Amazon to accomplish it?

Did it snap because I did not use a lubricant?

 
Last edited:
Jareth

Jareth

Goblin Guru
Maybe this one, or is there something better

https://www.amazon.com/FOCMKEAS-Combination-Threaded-Drilling-Countersinking/dp/B0CRZ7C1NT/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1S1OIBGUGTDGO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DavAQdkrtiCpdwiQbTB_-64xF9gddK_gowd2dlfPWnWOYYYNxP1-WLatmZTPfvswQs9QzV1PtcxTgr49CptJenuDRNfr9j_EAFdIjaR24cTUFjjg3QzAtHEcuOBDvRcajSKz-_09nsLwAd0EbO36bsoK9NeI-OH1An6o2efIh-ThCjslOB2Y_0qEOWkQA8VBKuZvSGWj7qjTkfhV0BWGsX_b4cdEu8n0PAeb87ITD4I.unSPEApcmSCx4PGpnO--BNFyHH6GagvVp7yQsLl-h6g&dib_tag=se&keywords=3/8-16+drill+and+tap+set&qid=1737491538&sprefix=3/8-16+drill+and+tap+set,aps,119&sr=8-8&th=1
 
G

Gtstorey

Goblin Guru
You probably aren't going to drill into a tap. Typically, the tap is going to be much harder than a drill bit and as you have learned they can be brittle.
Sometimes you can use a punch and hammer and smack them, and they will break into smaller pieces. Or you can try to use a die grinder with a small stone to grind it out.

But those really don't look like any tap that I have used either. Where did they come from? Maybe that is supposed to be a "cleanout" tap? Maybe they won't be as hard and could be drilled.

With a regular tap, you use lubricant and turn them until they get a little stiff and then back them up to clean the tap out. You also have to be careful about bottoming them in a non-through hole.
 
Joebob

Joebob

Goblin Guru
the way they are coarsely machined and heavily stamped, they don't look like hard material. They look more like thread gages than taps as previously commented on. I would try left hand drill bits to try to drill a hole and use an easy out to remove it. Taps should also be used with a T handle to not put side loads and not a ratchet handle to avoid side loads.

 
G

Gtstorey

Goblin Guru
Joebob said:
the way they are coarsely machined and heavily stamped, they don't look like hard material. They look more like thread gages than taps as previously commented on. I would try left hand drill bits to try to drill a hole and use an easy out to remove it. Taps should also be used with a T handle to not put side loads and not a ratchet handle to avoid side loads.

Click to expand...
True. If they aren't hardened steel, probably isn't necessary to use left handed bit. Although it might easily unscrew the broken portion with the LH bit. Have you tried unscrewing the piece with a small screwdriver. Sometimes the piece isn't hard to turn.
 
Mahkoi

Mahkoi

Well-Known Member
I recently broke an ez-out while trying to remove a broken brake bleeder screw on a 4 wheeler caliper. No drill bit i had would touch it but the pointy ones out of this kit chewed through it. Probably ruined the bit but they're cheap so they did their job

 
Desert Sasqwatch

Desert Sasqwatch

Bigfoot Goblin
Another alternative: Taps have 3 or more gaps around their circumference. It may be possible to tap/pry/finesse a tool into these to break up the top one or two threads on the broken piece (it's the top threads that are bound up). This may loosen up the piece enough to get needle nose pliers to twist the tap out.

But yes, when using a tap (or die) it is highly recommended to use oil lubricant and work slowly with lots of in/out cycles to help prevent cuttings from binding the tap - which should be cleaned out if excessive by removing the tap. Cheaper tap & die sets can be excessively brittle - the balance between hardness (surface layer) and flexibility (core) is very narrow. Spending more on a name brand set with good reviews can help reduce the chances of breaking, but experience is also a key factor to being successful - sorry to say.
 
Mahkoi

Mahkoi

Well-Known Member
Gtstorey said:
Probably need to stop buying certain types of tools off eBay. The ones pictured looks like real taps. The one that broke doesn’t.
Click to expand...
The one that broke look a lot like my snap on rethread/ chaser kit. Not sure if they are the same or not but it's a tool I use a lot and have had no issues with. But I tend to throw some lube on them. And I agree they don't match that last link that was posted.
 
duthehustle93

duthehustle93

Well-Known Member
Sorry that this happened to you... definitely not a fun situation. That's a thread restorer. They're designed to move/roll material rather than cut material... it's a good idea to use lubricant when cutting or rolling any threads.

It's very unlikely you'll be able to drill that out unless it's a really cheap one that wasn't hardened at all. For inside a garage, most taps are hard/brittle enough to where you can break them apart with a hammer and chisel. Make sure that when you are trying to break it apart, you are also hammering it lefty-loosey so that it's turning it "out" as you are hitting it. If that doesn't work, you can also weld a nut to it and unscrew your thread restorer.
 
Traé

Traé

Goblin Guru
If the broken piece is not buried in the hole, you can try taking a small cut off wheel on a Dremel and make a slot for a flathead to unscrew it.
 
Markm

Markm

Well-Known Member
Depending on how hard the broken piece is I’ve had broken taps I’ve broken with a punch and pushed down.
 
Waterdriver

Waterdriver

Goblin Guru
I had a similar issue on a truck I had years ago. I had located a local machining tools shop supplier near me. Explained the situation and got me the right drill bit. Nothing else will even touch it.
Look for a locksmith drill bit.
20250204_114050.jpg


20250204_114127.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top