I just got these extractors:
Irwin Industrial Tool 53227 Hex Head Multi-Spline Extractor Set 25 PC
I ordered this extractor set from Amazon.com (from a seller named Small Parts, Inc. since they shipped to Ireland) as I couldn’t locate them in the EU. Snap-on offer a set on their UK site but they were twice the price. I thought I’d give this set a shot and see what happens.
They arrived within three days which is pretty good from US to Dublin. However, I got nailed for VAT (tax) and a UPS fee which was almost as much as the tools which really pissed me off! It seems this happens a lot. I paid VAT of about EU9.20 and a UPS “admin fee” of EU13.50, on top of which I had to pay a service tax of EU2.90. This added up to EU25.60 – nearly half the cost of the tools (EU44). Annoying!
Oh, yeah… why do I want them? Eh… I mangled my transmission oil hex bolt trying to do an oil change. I don’t think I had the hex key fully in the bolt before I started turning. I managed to strip the inside of the bolt so now it’s practically smooth.
Tom Hill wrote up this very helpful article on IBMWR.org on how to extract a stuck transmission/gear oil plug. I’ll be employing his advice once I get the replacement hex bolt from Motorworks part SSA19143.
