Machine Shop Question

[Xelaw]

A couple bolts sheared off while removing the head of my motor to replace the gasket. I need to get two of the holes retapped and one bolt that has a drill bit in it machined out. Can machine shops usually do this with the block still attached to the boat, or will it have to be removed first? Also, what should I expect to pay to have something like this done?

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Machine Shop Question

If they can fit it in the drill press, then it should only be about 20-30 bucks.
If you have to take the whole boat to them, I would expect to pay double.

 

[Xelaw]

Re: Machine Shop Question

What I'm asking is, is it typically possible to take the whole boat to a machine shop or will I have to remove the block?

 

[tjello327]

Re: Machine Shop Question

It all depends on what kind of machine shops you have in your area. I have worked in machine shops for over 20 years and I will tell you that bringing the entire boat to a shop will do no good. You have to either use carbide tooling with hand tools or tear apart your engine far enough so the problem area can be clamped to a milling machine table. I use a carbide ball end mill, run it at least 1500 rpm and mill dead center of the bolt or broken drill or whatever is stuck in the hole. This will work to get the broken drill bit out. If an e-z out don't work to get the bolt out at this point, you will have to drill the hole out to the correct tap drill size and then tap the hole out.

 

[Xelaw]

Re: Machine Shop Question

Called several shops. Many said they wouldn't touch anything with a broken drill bit in it, and the rest said I'd have to take the block out and bring it in.

After hearing this, I put more thought into what I could do on my own and I think I'm onto something. I used a center punch and banged on the drill bit to shatter it, then used a pick to dig the pieces out. Every time I'm as deep as I can get, I stuck my Dremel with a tungsten carbide bit in the hole and opened it up until I could fit the center punch back in. As of now, I'm 3/4 of the way in. My punch is too wide to get deeper than that, so I'm going to buy a more narrow one tomorrow and hopefully finish up the rest.

 

[coolbikeguy]

Re: Machine Shop Question

welcome to my world ... LOL been drilling and tapping bolts in my 140 chrysler. i got sick of it so took the whole boat to a small local machinist and am letting him deal with it .. lol call me when its done, thats all i said lol

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Machine Shop Question

Good deal! See you didn't have to take it in after all. Those carbide bits have saved my "you know what" many times. Cuts through the hardest steel.

 

[Xelaw]

Re: Machine Shop Question

I got the rest of the drill bit out last week by sharpening a small punch to shatter what was left.