Front Access Panel

craigs135s · Post by **craigs135s** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:55 pm

Just tryed to take the front Access panel off one peg came out fine the other 2 wont as the tool is just turns in the peg. How can i get it off?

Cheers
Craig

Post by **simon** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:58 pm

Check and see if the allen bolts are rounded off. If they are, time to get the drill out!

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:59 pm

Try taking the other one off - and see if you can reach under the centre of the clam to push the bolts from underneath as someone else turns the allen key (?)
Just a suggestion - will probably result in skint knuckles and a lot of swearing!

Good luck

craigs135s · Post by **craigs135s** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:07 pm

yeah they look a little rounded as the Allen key is just turning. So what do i need to drill then?
Cheers
Craig

Post by **simon** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:11 pm

If you can't get to them from the other panel, get some replacement bolts and once you've got them, get a drill wide enough to drill the head of the bolt off and start drilling. Once the head off the bolt is off and the panels are off, you should be able to just undo the bolts with your fingers or a pair of pliers.

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:13 pm

Yeah, if it's the centre ones that are rounded you might get at them from the other side. Get molegips on the end and turn whilst also turning from above?

craigs135s · Post by **craigs135s** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:15 pm

Oh sh*t me with a drill next to a car

Cheers
Craig

r055 · Post by **r055** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:14 pm

craigs135s wrote:Oh sh*t me with a drill next to a car

Cheers
Craig

yup - stand well back everyone!
what size are the allen bolts craig? you want a hand?

you should be able to get them somehow without the drill! try everything else first!

Post by **pete** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:24 pm

craigs135s wrote:yeah they look a little rounded as the Allen key is just turning. So what do i need to drill then?
Cheers
Craig

Mine did the same, in fact I ordered replacements from Murrays this afternoon.

I got an allen key then very firmly held it at an angle so it gripped the bolt head (after spaying the bolt with WD40 so it was as loose as poss) and managed to get them out far enough to grip the head with a pair of pliers. I then cut a slot into the head with a Dremmel, essentially turning them into screws and put them back in with a screwdriver. You could cut slots in them in situ, they are very soft, but the sparks might ignite the car*, or, and this would happen to me, you might find your concentration starting to wander after 2 seconds and slip, cutting a big groove in your car.

All in all I was very pleased with myself as I have 5 thumbs on my right hand which makes such jobs quite tricky. Admittedly this was all last July and I have only today got around to ordering the new bolts. The old ones will almost certainly have siezed by now, and the cock-eyed groove I cut in them in the summer won't shift them.

Good luck, I can lend you a Dremmel if you are near Kilmarnock but it was only 20 quid from B&Q if you aren't.

Pete

*could happen. but probably won't, I dunno I'm not a mechanic. Can I just point out that is the very first time I have ever been able to answer a mechanical question with an answer other than "this is how much I paid to have it fixed" in the FIVE years I have been on this list and that which went before...

mac · Post by **mac** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:29 pm

Try a similar size torx bit rather than a allen key - if your lucky they can sometimes grip the flats.

If you do get them out make sure you have replacements

Mac

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:13 am

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:08 am

Second vote for torx on Lotus cheesium fasteners. Normally I hammer it in but that might not be advisable on the front clam.... Dremel is the next best. Drill is last resort!

craigs135s · Post by **craigs135s** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:26 pm

cheers. Will try the torx tonight and see if that works.

Ross you got a torx set?

Cheers
Craig

craigs135s · Post by **craigs135s** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:16 pm

Got them off. Managed to get the pliers on them and get them out.

Pete did MMC have them in stock our did they order them?

Cheers
Craig

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:26 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Second vote for torx on Lotus cheesium fasteners. Normally I hammer it in but that might not be advisable on the front clam.... Dremel is the next best. Drill is last resort!

Where's a JCB when you need it

I'll get the bolts off

.. stand back......