Never met a mechanic/fitter who had much faith in extractors but I've met a lot who've had 'em snap off in a seized screw/bolt and then you're in even more trouble.
Drill the head of the bolt off, then move panel out of the way, and hopefully there is enough of the bolt to get hold of with molegrips. I would make sure you copper slip the lower panel bolts especially the ones that go into wellnuts as they always seize. Good Luck.
Me too mate, but not down at the 'dainty' end of the trade. Me and me fellow 'gorillas' are dealing with heavy plant and forestry machines. We tend to be a bit harder on kit than your average 'spanner monkey'.
I'm not being silly, sometimes using a left hand drill, (Drill slow) it will wind out the offending bolt before drilling it out. Centre punch the bolt then give it a try. Mike.
Torx bit as said Slot it as said Left hand drill bit as said Weld another bolt to it Snap on bolt/stud remover (looks like a drill chuck) Failing that
Centre punch the edges to get it started, worked every time for me. Plus I never use the dome head type Allen bolts for that reason.
Try an impact driver with a slightly bigger torx bit or flat head jammed across the inside, its basically a screw driver that you hit with a hammer and the blow causes rotation while maximmum downforce is applied from the hammer blow, great for seized or worn bolts. Most small garages, blokes with shed will have one that you could borrow, I'd happily oblige but live in the North of Wales.
problem with an impact driver is it needs a fair whack to make it work,not something I'd be using on a bike bracket
you can get "easyouts" !! You drill a 4mm hole into head then wind the easyout into the hole with a spanner/socket & it bites into bolt & will undo it. They are very good & easy to use & cheap Tim Grant
