Question about a stripped bolt on a Cessna 172 cowling hinge

I was doing a pre-flight check on a Cessna 172 last Tuesday morning and went to open the cowling. The forward hinge bolt on the pilot's side just spun in place. The head was completely rounded off, probably from someone using the wrong size wrench before me. I had a quick turn-around for the next lesson, so I grabbed my extractor socket set. It took about 15 minutes of careful work, but I got it out without damaging the hinge. The new bolt went in fine, but it got me thinking about how often we see stuff like this from rushed maintenance. What's your go-to method for dealing with a stripped bolt in a tight spot like that without making it worse?

3 comments

3 Comments

brookeross21d ago

My extractor set has seen more action than that bolt.

piperwhite21d ago

My buddy's extractor snapped inside a head bolt last week.

grant.sam11d ago

Your extractor set's seen more action, but has it ever FOUGHT a bolt that won?