stripped bolt, please help

[salmonfan]

Hey, I'm just a one man/one mower business but I've got a lot of clients and my blade needs to be sharpened often. However, when I tried to remove the bolts that hold onto the blade I completely stripped them. I have a few tools but not many, I was wondering what to do or who I should take it too. I was also wondering how much this might cost. Any advice would be appreciated.

[ba1m2x2]

I am going to assume that when you say you stripped the bolt...that you mean you rounded off the head of it........you have a couple of options....and that will all depend on the types of tools that you have.

The cheapest way out on this is with Vice Grips.....tighten those suckers down on the stripped bolt and give her hell.

Your best best is to shell out about 25 bucks....and get a bolt extractor. Napa has them.

with a bolt extractor all you need to do is drill out the center of the stripped bolt do not drill out the entire width of the bolt in other words leave the threads entact. Once the hole is about 1/2 inch deep simply put the bolt extractor in..( what a bolt extractor does is since it has a reverse thread pattern on it and it is tapered....you turn it counter clock wise to get it to bore in, as it bores in deeper the extractor gets tight and won't bore in anymore, the resulting force causes the "stuck or stripped" bold to turn counter clockwise removing it.

Finally you want to take that stripped bolt and throw it as far away from you as you can. And make sure to invest in a socket set so that you are not using an adjustible wrench to remove the blade. ( Just a guess on the adjustible wrench thing but usually those are the culprits when it comes to stripped bolts....)

[GrassMaster]

Do this too...

And make sure to invest in a socket set so that you are not using an adjustible wrench to remove the blade. ( Just a guess on the adjustible wrench thing but usually those are the culprits when it comes to stripped bolts....)

Make sure it's a 6 sided Impact Socket too! It's the best blade bolt remover & tightener there is.

Also if you can't get it off using the Vise Grips (Good Advise) take a grinder grind the head off & then try with vise Grips or Pipe Wrench. Take your time going back & forth if it doesn't want to come loose. You might even spray it with penetrating oil?

[RatherbeBassin']

Got a torch? Propane torch/pencil torch? (Those cheap azz pencil torches are available @ every cheap tool sale and are amazing for this purpose. disposable too @ $3 each.) Heat area slowly by moving flame slowly/evenly over bolt for @ least 30 seconds. THEN grab bolt (careful) w/biggest Vise Grips ya got and she will come loose.

[salmonfan]

I appreciate the suggestions, I'm sure I'll be able to get that sucker off with one of them.