Hello all. I picked up a '91 F2 project bike recently and am just tearing into it. One piece of fun I've discovered is a broken exhaust stud that someone tried to remove at some point. What's the best way to go about removing this? I don't have a welder (yet) so that's out for now...

 

I was in your place last year. I tried variety of things. Blow torch and penetrant,
impact driver, stud puller, vice grip and what not. What eventually worked for me was what you say 'out for now'-mig welding
I'd suggest not waste time on anything else and get a welder soon or just take it to a garage which does a lot of welding stuff like an old car restoration specialist or something. They'd be very handy with these kind of things.

 

That's what I didn't want to hear, but suspected was coming. This is a budget track-bike build, will have to see if I can find a mobile welder locally as MIG setups aren't cheap. Anybody else have any luck pulling a broken exhaust stud with another method? I'm temped to try JBWeld just for grins, as that stuff has done wonders in the past...

 

I feel for ya Chobes. I was there too, only I busted two of the Bas%&*ds!

After trying all of the stuff mentioned except the MIG welding, I took the head off and had an engineering shop drill them out for me.

I know, not what you wanted to hear

 

Y'all are just trying to make me depressed... I may give it a go with JB Weld, as I can burn that off with a torch if it doesn't work.

If I do end up needing a MIG welder, how big of a unit will be needed? I can get one from Lowe's/HD for a few hundred bucks, but not sure if an 88 amp unit will be strong enough.

Also, with the bike being 20+ years old, what are your thoughts on the remaining exhaust studs? I'm afraid of breaking them off if I go about removing all of them.

 

JB weld wont work.

If You're not good at welding, don't even attempt it yourself.

 

I've got a spare engine I can try on. With what the local welders are asking to come out and remove a single bolt, it's worth buying the welder and refining an old skill.

 

If you've got a spare to practice on you should go for it, why the hell not.
Always wanted to learn to weld...