How to remove a snapped valve adjustment screw
A valve adjustment screw can snap off right under the nut with only slight pressure. The remaining bolt often backs out a few threads before stopping completely and refusing to budge, even when twisted with vice grip pliers.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Trying to twist the stuck bolt out using vice grip pliers
- 2Welding a nut to the remaining thread to wrench it out
- 3Using a chisel to turn the broken bolt
- 4Pulling the cam bridge and replacing the rocker arm
- 5Chipping out the surrounding grout or concrete to access the valve stem and retaining nut.
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“After apply slight pressure on it the bolt broke off just under the nut.”source ↗
“I can get about 6 threads of the bolt out then it suddenly stops. I’ve tried using vice grip pliers to twist it. The bold won’t budge.”source ↗
“Looks like someone cemented the shower handle thing? We're trying to take it out to replace it to resolve a leak.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 29How to remove a stripped recessed retaining screw
- 4How to get off a stripped or over-tightened oil drain plug
- 9How to remove a faucet handle with no visible screws
- 2How to get a blown spark plug out of engine threads
- 4How to get out a stripped or stuck seatbelt bolt
- 2Can't get bottom of strut over lower control arm