xj550 oil pan/sump bolts

Hi guys,

I've moved on to remove my sump and replace the gasket as there is a nasty leak. Problem is I'm having a nightmare getting the bolts out. They are Allen bolts.

Soaked in oil and the bolt snapped halfway. Heated up with hot air gun and stripped the head of the bolt!

Any tips would be much appreciated as I have at least 3 to now retap.

 

More pictures please help!

 

I suspect the PO's solution to stop the oil leak was to crank those screws way too tight.
You're going to have to drill the head off so you can get the pan off, then hopefully grasp it with vice-grips.
If it were me I'd remove the gas tank, battery, all the fluids and lay the bike over.
Working underneath the bike like that is not something I can even think about.
If you have to install any heli-coils much better with the bike on it's side.

 

Thanks simmy! Lent on side and manage to get a few more out and found the perfect size for the rounded ones

 

clever, I hadn't considered that.

 

And the fruit of the labour

 

Ummm.... is this cracking in the sump normal? Could it be the cause of the leak?

 

Looks like casting marks not cracks so normal. You can try reinserting the sump plug and torque to spec and see if the 'open out' if your unsure, or take a needle file to them
and dress them back.