rear header nut stripped....HELP

If all else fails, I'd use the Dremmel. I've done this plenty on driveshaft and halfshaft nuts. Always a bear to get a bite in the first place, when they're rounded it's even worse.


I use a flexible extension wand on my dremmel for issues like these.

http://www.acetoolonline.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=DRE-225-01&utm_source=googlebase

Mine is even narrower at the tool end, about the size of a pen but you get the idea. With the wand, you can maneuverer it into tight spaces (it would certainly fit in the area pictured) and if you know how to use the tool.....you'll do little to no damage to that stud. You don't have to go all the way through that nut to break it.
 
Man this process is starting to become really frustrating, I tried using the needle nose vise-grips and the result is the nut is pretty much rounded now. before i started i sprayed a grip load of that liquid wrench stuff and let it sit overnight. After 14 hours of work, I came home and attempted to unscrew but ended up screwing up my bike instead. Am i pretty much owned?......i guess the ducati dealership will be getting a good chunk of cash pretty soon. I havent even move the nut one bit. it is still in the exact same position as before except with a rounded nut now. I couldnt even turn it 1/16 of a turn.
 
Seriously.....Dremmel $30-70, flex extension $20-40....reinforced cutoff wheel with arbor $10-15. So, for $60-125 you can cut off the nut, keep the tool...and pull off the standard "Man" play. Buy the tool, save the service costs....keep the tool for other jobs. 5 minutes tops!!!! No kidding!!!!
 
i never used a dremel tool before but I assume my goal is to cut the nut down close enough to the stud but never all the way through then just use the vice-grips to twist them off? Will this damage the threads? Sorry for all the questions but thanks everyone for all the tips.

BTW.....I tend to be the type of person who likes to do everything myself even when i dont know how to do it. its all about the learning experience. sometimes I may ask alot of questions but at least in the long run I can turn back around and teach someone else.
 
Yes, that's the goal. It's very easy. With as much room as you have there, I might even make two cuts just to make it easier. Even if you put a groove in that stud, the stud wont be ruined. You can definitely do the job without putting a mark in that stud, but even if you did....no big deal as long as it's not too deep.

Give it a go...you'll be glad you did. Plus, there are a million and one uses for a Dremmel tool. You should have one anyway.
 
Dude, don't sweat it...
Get a new 40 cent nut and just ride it down to the gas station and have the guy heat the nut until red with his torch. Put your vise grips on it and loosen the thing. In 40 seconds when everything has cooled down turn it off with your fingers and put the new nut on. Give the guy $5 then go home and have a beer.
 
Just an update: so I finally got a little free time today to reattempt getting the rounded nut off. I first bought a dremel with the extension and started cutting away. Got down to a thin wall next to the threads but still couldn't get it off. Then went out again and bought a mini torch to heat it up and used the long nose to try and get it off, but no luck. After 2.5 hours wasted with no progress i ended up getting a flat head screw driver, sharpened it with the dremel tool and then started hammering away. Finally after so many hours of frustration, I got the damn thing off. I am excited that the system is practically done, the only thing now is I have to wait till i find free time again to find and buy replacement nuts. It sucks working 55 hours a week and going full time graduate school. Anyways thanks again for all the help. I might eventually post pictures of the completed product but then again its only going to look like all the other 848s with full systems so might be no point of doing so.
 
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