cant remove hard top GGRRRR!!! - LotusTalk

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 03:24 PM

Ok so today im like damn its about time I remove that ****in hardtop, so I remove everything with a problem...but when I arrive to the back passenger one(the one near the rear), it just wont do, so ive tried ****in hard, tried other hex keys, etc etc.....all in all, this one wont get out, but the worse part is, now its worst than stripped, I completely ****ed it up from trying to remove it.....so please someone tell me what to do

-Seb

pinmagic · 04-24-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEBM

so please someone tell me what to do

-Seb

Wash your mouth out with soap, then go try again.

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinmagic

Wash your mouth out with soap, then go try again.

lol serisouly ive been like 2 hours on it, id take a pictures of the screw u guys wouldnt recognize that its a screw lol....

-Seb

knucklehead · 04-24-2005, 03:35 PM

Is the bolt itself not loosening?
All your trying to do is loosen the bolt low enough to unhook it. The big square piece above the screw has a hook just to the bottom right. When the screw is low enough. The square piece drops down to clear the hook.

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knucklehead

Is the bolt itself not loosening?
All your trying to do is loosen the bolt low enough to unhook it. The big square piece above the screw has a hook just to the bottom right. When the screw is low enough. The square piece drops down to clear the hook.

the bolt doesnt want to move even of 1mm, after an hour the screw was so ****ed up I had to make myself a "custom" screw with my metal cutter...an hour later the screw wasnt even a screw anymore

-Seb

NMRJock · 04-24-2005, 03:58 PM

You need either an "Easy Out" screw extractor or a Craftsman "Bolt Out" set. I don't know what the hardtop bolts look like. I'd guess that an Easy Out would work best.

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NMRJock

You need either an "Easy Out" screw extractor or a Craftsman "Bolt Out" set. I don't know what the hardtop bolts look like. I'd guess that an Easy Out would work best.

im going to get one asap right now, I know I have one but I cant find it

-Seb

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 04:56 PM

WOW. I dont know what lotus did to that screw but...I drilled the hole for the bolt out screw, screw the bolt out scew...the bolt out screw broke

What sucked at first is now pissing me off!!Help!!!

-Seb

iRod · 04-24-2005, 05:44 PM

I wouldn't know how to help other than to cheer. GO SEBM! GO SEBM! GO SEBM!

Racer X · 04-24-2005, 06:02 PM

I would go to the dealer, if you are lucky, they will fix it under warranty. It is a captured bolt. I am not sure it can be replaced. A new roof may be necessary. Stop before you do more damage.

Greg

GetBoost · 04-24-2005, 06:18 PM

Yup, you should try expert help now. And the "Bolt Out" is harden steel, so it's very brittle and extremely hard. You'll have a tough time drilling that out to extract it.

Stan · 04-24-2005, 06:42 PM

Generally speaking, forcing stuff doesn't often work out.

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 06:49 PM

oh crap, well the closest dealer is like 2-3 hours away....ill see what I can do this week...this totally sucks ass, if anybody got an idea let me know....and im sure they wont put it under warranty once they see the bolt....LOL

-Seb

APOGEE · 04-24-2005, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEBM

oh crap, well the closest dealer is like 2-3 hours away....ill see what I can do this week...this totally sucks ass, if anybody got an idea let me know....and im sure they wont put it under warranty once they see the bolt....LOL

-Seb

Hi Seb, Is the hardtop still on the car ? That's a long way to drive to a dealer,
was it a factory installed hardtop ? Who put it on last ? Do you have a Dremel tool? How about getting some help from a ''friendly'' local body shop ?
You may want to have a pro operate with a mini cut off wheel after you protect the area with 200 mph tape.
Don.

SEBM · 04-24-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by APOGEE

Hi Seb, Is the hardtop still on the car ? That's a long way to drive to a dealer,
was it a factory installed hardtop ? Who put it on last ? Do you have a Dremel tool? How about getting some help from a ''friendly'' local body shop ?
You may want to have a pro operate with a mini cut off wheel after you protect the area with 200 mph tape.
Don.

Yes it was already on the car when I bought it BRAND NEW so it was factory installed I guess. I do have a dremel tool and I used it to make a flat head type of screw but the thing is just too hard and didnt want to unscrew......I guess ill have to do somewhere and see what they can do...

-Seb

rob13572468 · 04-25-2005, 05:01 AM

thats not going to work anymore... you are going to need to destroy the bolt now by drilling it out (which im sure at this point you could care less about the bolt. use a drill bit that is the same size as the bolt body (not the head) and drill until the head seperates from the body. HSS bits might work but a carbide tipped hardened steel bit (such as made by bamanufacturing) will give much better results, particularly if you cannot remove the easy out bit.

make sure that you keep the bit cool as you drill; this means putting down a bunch of towels and then spraying lubricant on the bolt as you drill (WD-40 will work OK for this but machine shops have better drilling oils. once the bolt head seperates you will be able to remove the top and replace the assembly.

my guess is that you will either find that the bolt was cross threaded or siezed into place from corrosion. good luck...

SEBM · 04-25-2005, 07:19 AM

thanks rob, yeah I definetely dont give a **** about the bolt, it can be replaced....hopefully I can find someone to get it out for cheap

-Seb

LOTUS 5 · 04-25-2005, 07:23 AM

This screw is a type of captive screw. It has a threaded section then a reduced shaft size and then another threaded section. You might want to remove the other side all the way out so you can see what you have. The bracket should drop off into your hand as you finally remove the screw. I'm not at home right now or would go out and see what will work best for you. It is possible that getting the head removed will not let the bracket be removed. Hopefully someone here will get more info for you. Good luck, Bob.

SEBM · 04-25-2005, 11:31 AM

well I went to the guy who works on my supra and he managed to unscrew it with brute force, so I brought the hardtop back hom in the passenger seat LOL now im open air YAY

-Seb

Racer X · 04-25-2005, 11:42 AM

Are you going to be able to replace the bolt?

Greg

04-24-2005, 03:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
SEBM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 253	cant remove hard top GGRRRR!!! Ok so today im like damn its about time I remove that **in hardtop, so I remove everything with a problem...but when I arrive to the back passenger one(the one near the rear), it just wont do, so ive tried in hard, tried other hex keys, etc etc.....all in all, this one wont get out, but the worse part is, now its worst than stripped, I completely **ed it up from trying to remove it.....so please someone tell me what to do -Seb __________________ -Seb 2005 Lotus Elise LSS - Chrome Orange - Fully Loaded(LSS, Touring, Hard Top) - Not Stock 1994 Toyota Supra TT - Rennaissance Red - Mod list is too long - 1300+hp 2007 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red - Beater/Family Mobile

04-24-2005, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
NMRJock A smile a mile. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 3,571	You need either an "Easy Out" screw extractor or a Craftsman "Bolt Out" set. I don't know what the hardtop bolts look like. I'd guess that an Easy Out would work best. __________________ Paul Parkanzky Magnetic Blue with Biscuit Touring, LSS, Starshield

04-24-2005, 04:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
SEBM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 253	WOW. I dont know what lotus did to that screw but...I drilled the hole for the bolt out screw, screw the bolt out scew...the bolt out screw broke What sucked at first is now pissing me off!!Help!!! -Seb __________________ -Seb 2005 Lotus Elise LSS - Chrome Orange - Fully Loaded(LSS, Touring, Hard Top) - Not Stock 1994 Toyota Supra TT - Rennaissance Red - Mod list is too long - 1300+hp 2007 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red - Beater/Family Mobile

04-24-2005, 06:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
Racer X Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 591	I would go to the dealer, if you are lucky, they will fix it under warranty. It is a captured bolt. I am not sure it can be replaced. A new roof may be necessary. Stop before you do more damage. Greg __________________ Aubergine/Black, Touring, Sport, and Hardtop

04-24-2005, 06:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
SEBM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 253	oh crap, well the closest dealer is like 2-3 hours away....ill see what I can do this week...this totally sucks ass, if anybody got an idea let me know....and im sure they wont put it under warranty once they see the bolt....LOL -Seb __________________ -Seb 2005 Lotus Elise LSS - Chrome Orange - Fully Loaded(LSS, Touring, Hard Top) - Not Stock 1994 Toyota Supra TT - Rennaissance Red - Mod list is too long - 1300+hp 2007 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red - Beater/Family Mobile

04-24-2005, 03:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
knucklehead TWRD & Blip advertising Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marina del Rey, CA Posts: 3,865	Is the bolt itself not loosening? All your trying to do is loosen the bolt low enough to unhook it. The big square piece above the screw has a hook just to the bottom right. When the screw is low enough. The square piece drops down to clear the hook.

04-24-2005, 05:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
iRod Mellow Yellow Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 507	I wouldn't know how to help other than to cheer. GO SEBM! GO SEBM! GO SEBM!

04-24-2005, 06:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
GetBoost Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 139	Yup, you should try expert help now. And the "Bolt Out" is harden steel, so it's very brittle and extremely hard. You'll have a tough time drilling that out to extract it.

04-24-2005, 06:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
Stan - Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,947	Generally speaking, forcing stuff doesn't often work out.

04-25-2005, 05:01 AM	#16 (permalink)
rob13572468 the devil's advocate... Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Posts: 919	thats not going to work anymore... you are going to need to destroy the bolt now by drilling it out (which im sure at this point you could care less about the bolt. use a drill bit that is the same size as the bolt body (not the head) and drill until the head seperates from the body. HSS bits might work but a carbide tipped hardened steel bit (such as made by bamanufacturing) will give much better results, particularly if you cannot remove the easy out bit. make sure that you keep the bit cool as you drill; this means putting down a bunch of towels and then spraying lubricant on the bolt as you drill (WD-40 will work OK for this but machine shops have better drilling oils. once the bolt head seperates you will be able to remove the top and replace the assembly. my guess is that you will either find that the bolt was cross threaded or siezed into place from corrosion. good luck...

04-25-2005, 07:19 AM	#17 (permalink)
SEBM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 253	thanks rob, yeah I definetely dont give a **** about the bolt, it can be replaced....hopefully I can find someone to get it out for cheap -Seb __________________ -Seb 2005 Lotus Elise LSS - Chrome Orange - Fully Loaded(LSS, Touring, Hard Top) - Not Stock 1994 Toyota Supra TT - Rennaissance Red - Mod list is too long - 1300+hp 2007 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red - Beater/Family Mobile

04-25-2005, 07:23 AM	#18 (permalink)
LOTUS 5 AS # 0232 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dixon, IL Posts: 112	This screw is a type of captive screw. It has a threaded section then a reduced shaft size and then another threaded section. You might want to remove the other side all the way out so you can see what you have. The bracket should drop off into your hand as you finally remove the screw. I'm not at home right now or would go out and see what will work best for you. It is possible that getting the head removed will not let the bracket be removed. Hopefully someone here will get more info for you. Good luck, Bob. __________________ Cuando Omni Flunkus Moritati

04-25-2005, 11:31 AM	#19 (permalink)
SEBM Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 253	well I went to the guy who works on my supra and he managed to unscrew it with brute force, so I brought the hardtop back hom in the passenger seat LOL now im open air YAY -Seb __________________ -Seb 2005 Lotus Elise LSS - Chrome Orange - Fully Loaded(LSS, Touring, Hard Top) - Not Stock 1994 Toyota Supra TT - Rennaissance Red - Mod list is too long - 1300+hp 2007 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red - Beater/Family Mobile

04-25-2005, 11:42 AM	#20 (permalink)
Racer X Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 591	Are you going to be able to replace the bolt? Greg __________________ Aubergine/Black, Touring, Sport, and Hardtop

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