This guy is the real deal! I'm not a mechanic by any means but this guy really explains not just how, but why this technique works as well as what not to do so things don't get much worse. Very well spoken, detailed, and most importantly after watching this video I finally was able to remove a perfectly rounded, stripped worse than any bolt I've ever seen from my my rear brake caliper. Thank you sir!

Used this ‘hole punch’ technique today on a badly rounded nut in a very awkward position. Lifesaver.. ! Worked a treat. Thank you so much....

Bloody brilliant presentation by a man who knows what he's taking about. Bravo.

ONCE AGAIN, you have saved me time, money and frustration. I rounded off my front caliper bolts and didn't even think to file the edges flat again.

Watched 6-7 other videos on how to loosen nuts, then I watched yours. Yours was the only one that was thought out and made sense based on physics. Thank you

Your videos have saved me so much time and money. I really appreciate you taking the time out to show us how its done. You sir, are a national treasure. Rs.

He's got a brilliant way of explaining things.

ah dammit, thought you would say that lol! yeah there is no substitute for DIY! its all about going for it and learning how to do it myself! last year there was no way id be doing half of the things i do to my bike now without your channel! i was very wary about working on a big bike, but after seeing you do it so many times it feels like iv already done half of it before!! thank you so much del and keep up the good work!

these videos are great, I'm a panal beater by trade so havnt done a great deal of spanner work, only just got round to buying my first bike at the age of 39 ( late starter ) have no experience on working with bikes but your vids have given me the confidence to give it a go, thanks

I'm a diy guy - "the" single most frustrating thing i find for auto repair is stubborn bolts. There are so many "how to" videos that don't talk on the correct method to remove a bolt and refer to the repair process as "easy". I tried to do a rear brake job and I have done a couple in the past but this time I rounded the head of the caliper bracket bolt. Pretty sure i did all the things you said to make sure not to do - lesson learned. Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing.

Brilliant! AND...love all the explanations as to WHY you do what you do and the right tools to do with. I'm gonna try on my truck's wheel.

Now that's a brilliant method, Ben, never thought of that... it's not a strict discipline, you just do what works for you, it;s amazing how easily we reach for the grips and sometimes, less is more, thanks buddy, ride safe, Cheers, Del

Awesome video, thanks for taking the time to make this. another solution I use if you can get to the nut is a 'nut splitter'. The nut splitter sits on top of the nut and you tighten it with a ratchet. As it tightens, a blade goes though the nut and sheers it. It usually damages the thread of the bolt too, but if its a last resort thing, and you're going to replace the bolt anyway, it works well.

Your practical approach to a problem is really good...cheers!

I have never seen such an informative and useful set of videos as Delboys...well done mate !

I dont know why people dislike you vids, i find them all very helpfull and you give up your time to help us out. Cheers Del

I'm new to your channel but I have 1 thing for advice. Please never and I repeat never get rid of the camera lady. Keep up the good work. I'm off to watch more of your clips.

Thanks so much for sharing your expertise! i tried swapping out a pump on a pressure washer, and one bolt rounded out, and had no room to get a socket on it. Your method worked flawlessly, and i got it out. Thanks again for taking the time to educate the world! I'm jealous of your mechanical skills and know-how! Job well done, mate!

Had a mishap wit the IT there, the Rukka bit was a separate video that seemed to get loaded on top of the garage one...split them up now so they are where they should be.... thanks for watching buddy and happy new year to you and the five... take care, Del.

Thanks so much for this excellent tip! I had a master cylinder bleed screw in a really tight spot that was seized, I rounded the bolt trying to move it. Using this method exactly, I got it off in 30 seconds! You just saved me a ton of work, thank you.

wish I watched this about an hour ago, hence how I found the video lmao

Great information and I believe I've used the vice-grips approach in the past... never again.

If everyone in the world was as clever and smart as you, there would never be any problem on earth ever. So many people are doing things the wrong way, and it's so easy to do things right ...

Good route...as long as the heat from the weld is ok with the surroundings (powder coated casing or plastic parts etc,) that a good way... more then anything its just using yer noddle and thinking it through...most of the time there isnt an error code for the things that blight yer bike...cheers mate take care, Del.

Hi mate, I also have those self same blobs of rust & inherited them with the bike! Every time I've considered to take the pipes off,I've worked round it & actually not needed to,but if you truly have no choice but to remove the headers, then the best I can suggest is clear everything perifieral out of the way, rads, fairings, etc., get the best fitting alan key you can & soak in WD for a couple of days just give 'em a go,if they snap off then just drill them out & helicoil them - good luck, Del

What a fantastic video and tip. I was working on changing the sump on my Chrysler voyager and 11 bolts were fine and one was so rounded that no socket, spanner, special nut removing socket or Spanner managed to even grip it. There was little room and on a car jack so it was not easy job. I also tried all the usual lubricants and heat but it just made it worst. Eventually I was thinking this video and then welding a nut on top. I gave this a go with my lovely neighbours hole punch and very small hammer and after 2-3 minutes it worked a charm. The small tapping also helped to loosen all the rust inside the hole Thanks you very much mate. As a woodworking man, it made perfect sense as soon as I saw it. I got such an easy result after two days of trying everything else. Thanks mate

The impatient can jump to 8:20 for the meat of it. Nice explanation and examples. Thanks for adding the bit about different size hammers.

You are a star using a chisel and a toffee hammer worked perfect. Thanks a lot mate.

Thank you Delboy! Just removed four seized nuts from the exhaust manifold of my Bonneville T100 using your punch / chisel method as nothing else worked. Took my time applying a little heat (just a heat gun) and plenty of penetrating oil too and lots and lots of little taps. Took nearly an hour for each one but it worked and I had four undamaged studs that I could then use to fit my new Tec 2-1 exhaust. Scoured the whole of KZfaq but yours was by far the the most practical / useful advice. Many many thanks. Have joined your Idiot's Collective too.

This was really really helpful thank you, 3 mins with a sharp chisel and off came the rounded water coolant plug. You are a lifesaver thanks again

Just a message to say that i think your vids are very good and you describe things very well. There must be many people on KZfaq, who have learnt so much watching your videos. Keep up the good work you do Del.

Buy a Metwrench set. Grabs the middle of the nut instead of the corners. Was advertised on tv years ago, and they do work and only cost around 70 bucks for basic set, Works on badly rusted stuck ones as well, Sometimes a bit of heat needed, or penetrating oil on badly rusted ones. Adding a rattle to rusted nuts and bolts with those small air jackhammers will allow you to crack nearly any nut off in any situation. That's easier than any of this you're looking at here, but best way if nuts are rounded and you don't have the proper tools to remove nuts that have been rounded off. Thanks Moonfleet for your videos.

I bought myself a set of twist sockets a few years ago, for removing rounded nuts. Only had to use them a couple of times, but great bit of kit to have when the time comes

No you're right Byron, tjats the best thong to do, if its stuck by corrosion or locktitght in the thread then some easing oil will really help...the nut may just be badly damaged and the video was to showcase the centre punch method... thanks again my friend, have a great new year, all the best from us here in Blighty... Del,& Penny.

There are indeed mate... there are many specialist tools for specific jobs, but many beginner riders only have very basic hand tools, so this is a way to deal with it without a trip to the tool store!

You are a great teacher. Thanks for your video from Belgium.

Excellent. I’ve got a stripped bolt on my chain inspection cover and I’ve been sweating on how to remove it without destroying my entire primary case, haha. Great help

Hi Del and Penny, Great vid! The Rukka gear is amazing... really cool overview and details, and "Workshop Practices" segments are always greatly appreciated. Happy New Year!

Thanks.... you correctly identified all of the errors I made.... I laughed my head off... cheers!

Thanks Micky, thats really kind of you to say, i load thr videos to help others learn a bit and save a few bob, so its good to hear its working....good luck with the GPX, they are a rare old bike these days, take care, Del.

thinking LATERALLY!!!! finding a way ROUND a problem... very very few people think that way now.. Glad to see someone else whose in the same mind set as me. Owe you a beer and a chocky cake for the fork seal vid! ride safe.

another top episode of delboys garage, love it

Again you've saved the day. Much thanks. My valve cover bolts were rounded off on the 400 4, your technique got the naughty ones off. Again your vids are great, you empower use newbies to tackle stuff and save us x amount of pound / dollar. By the way loving your FOR's.

Good plans all mate, but hammering a smaller tool on is no different than squeezing it with grips...it still squeezes it tighter... but your method of filing down to the next size is perfect practice...nice tip mate... thanks for your comment..take care and happy new year..Del.

I must have missed this hidden gem! Thanks again Del , it makes so much sense!

Hi Del,hope ur well,just want to say a big thanks,was changing brake hoses,had 3 nuts wouldn't shift,drilled in side of nut to get a better purchace, tippy tappy and off,each time in my head,thank you, thank you,thank you...project Kawasaki gpx 750 is one step closer thanks to you, done more then i'd expected but with your helpful vids you gave me the confidence to give it a go. once again, big thanks Metal Micky

No matter how chewed it gets, you can always drill it out...nothing resists the drill..lol.. cheers mate.. Dek.

Thank you sir. You have solved a huge problem for me. 5 stars for you and a big thumbs up.

I'd say this video saved me about £200. Completely seized brake calliper bolt couldn't be shifted even by over-the-counter 'bolt extractor' nonsense, but gave way after a couple of hours persevering with this method. Continuous sharpening of the centre-punch is key… I should've just done this from the word go. Good work.

Subscribed because of the toffee hammer info. Priceless

I like you enthusiasm. I just used an imperial spanner, which was slightly smaller than the designated metric size and it gripped. Snapped the bolt but it abolished the incredibly hard task I had.

Hi mate thanks for all the tips helping keepin the winter bandit on the road till summer!

You saved me from making a big mistake! I followed your advice to remove some exhaust nuts from my Super Beetle. Thanks!

The trick lies in detail and you've done excellent. Thank you for sharing. I am in stage two where i've done some damage to a 17nut that is a part of a quarter turn kitchen sink tap. Time to shop for file and the center hole punch. I would be opting for the file method to restore the sides of the bolt and then try the ring/box spanner. Thanks again. :)

Love it Del - not only what to do, but why as well. Excellent, thx.

Excellent video and with an awesome accent.

thats a good one! gonna store that up in my ''will be useful one day'' part of my brain..... rapidly getting full though after a year of watching Dels videos! = D

I'll second the "brilliant" comment. The best shop classes I've ever had!

Brilliant videos as usual .. after watching your vid I came across a tool made in the US called (go2 socket) a must tool for every tool box! takes off rounded bolts with no hassle

Far Canal Tom.. £40?...thats theft in a box mate...is it any wonder why people hate dealers... thanks for watching mate, take care. and all the best for a great new year... Del.

Thanks Darrin, good to hear form you again buddy, hope life is good, happy new year to you both, take care, Del.

Glad i could help! Big fan of your videos, spending far to many hours looking at them! PS: the 7L size is in my opinion the most useful, it covers from 11mm to 19mm which is the range were you found most rounded nuts on cars and bikes... Keep up the good work!

Worked a treat - Oil filter nut on a Honda Activa Scooter ( I am from India) - Thank you sir

Thanks for posting such an awesome video. I learned a lot. I haven't had to mess with stripped nuts in a while, but I think this is useful information. Good show.

Hi Simon, now that's a tricky one mate....its a case if trial and error, try a flat bladed screw driver that almost fits in the hole but is just a tiny bit too big.. then tap it in with a toffee hammer, that's should get a grip on it....of not, then you may have to get an 'easyout' which is a left handed shallow screw for extracting stripped and snapped off bolts that you've drilled down... if all else fails mate, just drill the head off it but be careful not to damage the bodywork obviously...

good video..I have often said that they should not sell tools to some people.I was a carpenter and the decks some people built were just scary.. .best of luck..Bill

Sound thinking and a great presentation. Being from the US myself, I get a kick out of UK phrases all by themselves. "Clamp it on for England!" 6:38

GREAT tip! I'd never even thought about the fact that grips would crush the nut, so that's one tool I'll be using a bit less from now on ;) In terms of drilling, I've also had a couple seize on me, were rather than drilling the bolt down the centre, I've actually drilled the edge of the nut down to the thread and then used a similar approach to your punch method. It removes the pressure and gives you an awesome purchase for knocking it loose.

Hi mate,,,,i guess there will always be 'haters'...people who have little in their lives and need to ruin something good, like a vandal spraying graffitti on a clean wall.... but they are meaningless and make no difference to our direction.. thanks for watching buddy, we appreciate your kind support... Del.

Just did the file trick on brake hardline nut that got rounded. Life saver. Worked like a charm

It's the difference between independent and main dealer mechanics. The independent usually finds a way to fix some thing, the main dealer just replaces the entire unit, passing the cost to the customer.

I do! But I won't bore you with the details cos it'll make me look like a nerdy swot, I tend to be more slap dash as years go by and most of the time it works, great to chat with you buddy, Happy New Year to you, take care Del

I'm sorry to say this...but this is the Delboy Garage I miss..."how to" the common sense way...as the years went on you stopped thinking of the man with no mechanical knowledge or the guy that only have basic tools available to him....but with that being said, thank you for all the help and shortcuts I learned on your videos to build my custom bike...another thing I would have liked to see more on your video's is the holy grail..."Honda Blackbird CBR1100xx". No after market parts available so I have to build my own and lotta help from your videos (specially the Fighter build)...anyway, thank you once again.

Thanks, I learned a couple things. I never liked vice grips but now I really know why they never seem to work. And the center punch trick, I don't recall having tried that yet. Good info!

I wish I knew this stuff years ago. Nice video.

Sunday here in Virginia Beach. Decided to get off my fat arse and start to prep the Jet Ski for this seasons fishing. When installing some threadserts into the alum tube fishing rod holders, guess what I did? Broke the bolt. Hahaha. Luckily I was able to work it out without having to drill out the Insert and start all over. Had to laugh when I did it. Told my Wife I pulled a 'Monkey Boy'. Thanks for the vids. Makes me want to start riding again Steve (Ex Moto Guzzi California Titanium owner) Virginia Beach, VA USA

Its tricks like this that make us proper bodgers brother...!

At 8.47 he says get into the 'BOLT" itself then proceeds to work on the "NUT" just to prove I was paying attention from this retired toolmaker from down under in Australia .

as a painter and decorator with over 30 years experience I know for a 101% fact that experience = everything and college = nothing maybe this is different in other industry's but from what I've seen in the building trade it holds true

The biggest problem with Derby torx bolts is people use the wrong size, Derby bolts are a T27 but when you buy a basic Torx kit they skip 25 straight to 30 missing out 27, guys don't realise this so the only one that fits in the kit is the 25 (even though it's a bit wobbly), so off they go and hang on it and it minces straight away. Invest in a decent set of bits that include the rare 'T27' and give it afew taps with a toffee hammer as you twist and they usually come off every time. Cheers Del

That's a new one. I've already ordered the Grip-Tite set, but I'll try this if those fail. Thanks... good vids

Thanks man, worked like a charm with the punch

Thanks Rich, you are very kind.. we're just happy to be able to spread a little common sense and save people some pennies in the bargain... take care and thanks for watching.. Del.

Useful information, highly appreciate it 🙏

Brilliant Video! Very Helpful!

Cracking video and so right I've always attempted things and I get along well in most cases until the dreaded rounded or rusted bolt usually the last one in a sequence. Also right that the tool of choice in such a situation for me is mole grips and thinking to myself that the most satisfying noise is that clank of griping the bolt nut or whatever as tight as possible. Can't believe it never really dawned on me before that it just exasperated the situation. Mind you I also joking tell people I can do half of any job brilliantly (the taking apart) just don't expect in to go back together again. :-)

Thanks. The center punch technique is an excellent tip, as long as you can get good purchase on the fastener. That's the same problem with nut splitters. Does it work on bolt heads? I'm guessing not very well because the length of the threads adds friction.

Good vid. I've done this as well with success. Some other tricks I've done depending on how much space I have - I've taken my 'junk' set of wrenches and sockets and figured out the next smaller size, whether metric or imperial...hammed that on to the nut and removed the nut that way. I've also ground down new flats to the point where the tool the next size down would fit. I've had some success using a *small* pipe wrench which bit the nut in such a way that it encouraged it to spin off.

Hi Dan....that's a bit trickier aye...ok, if you cannot get the centre punch to grip by taping it onto the lip top edge of the bolt head, then you'll have to drill it off...protect the tank with about ten layers of masking tape. then push the drill bit gently down into the head till the head drops off...then wind the stump out with some grips.....use a drill that's 1mm bigger then the shaft of the bolt..!

Hello there and thanks for watching, I really appreciate the feedback, it's great to hear from people who've watched the videos and that was indeed the intention to help those new to the game to enjoy the other side of bike ownership, which is the fun house-keeping and maintenance! ...the FRO logs were just a bit of fun to spark off some debate and indeed, they seem to have done just that LOL! ... Cheers, Del

Good vid - perhaps the only thing I would add is before you get to the point of hitting it off is to try a decent quality 6 point/sided socket. I've not use one, but a "nut splitter" (ouch) may also be handy to keep in your toolbox. And if you have a welder, you can weld on a good nut.

nice one Del, yes done this with countersunk Phillips type screws and it works, a little heat with a mini blow lamp helps in bad cases!

There is only one way if they are that bad...and thats to drill the heads off...use a bit the same size as the shank of the bolt, and be careful not to cut into the caliper casting... best results will be taking the caliper off and m,ounting it in secure vice....there is a little chance you may be able to get a really sharp centre punch to bite into the edge of the bolt..but it rarely works.. i just drill them off then remove the bolts stumps once its apart.. good luck with it mate, cheers, Del.

Thanks Andy, glad to hear you get stuck in to your own stuff.. .well done mate... ride safe buddy.. Del.

Great detail.. Thank you sir.

Thanks Paul. good to hear from you and thanks for watching... take care, Del.

Hi mate, if your bike was running fine on the stubbied can stil recently then logically it can't be that - bogging on pull away is often attributed to a split diaphragm in the carb or a stuck choke, so starting the easiest first, make sure your choke is turning off completely & the cable isn't jamming, check your air filter is clean & not full of moisture & if all well, take the carb top caps off & inspect the rubber diaphragms for splits, let me know how you get on, Cheers Del

good job. appreciate. thanks for sharing the idea's.

thanks for the vid. this happened to a 15mm (flats) caliper bolt (on a car). I made it worse than it already was. Was using the wishbone to pivot against and as I was lifting the spanner and or wrench up, it would twist outwards, rendering the head of the bolt to partially skew. My first intuition was to get a file like you said - i might attempt this next weekend. I have undone caliper bolts for a long time now, pivoting against the ground or a wishbone have always worked except this time!

also take a look at ur socket or wrench, see if its a twelve point or six point. if its twelve stop and find a six. im trying to remove a security nut off the rim of my car but this was entertaining enough to watch all the way through. thank you for sharing. : )