Richard,
A slick trick is to obtain a left hand helix drill bit. use this to drill into the center of the broken stud end, using your reversible drill motor.
It helps to make a drill guide from a piece of scrap steel first. (the thicker the better) You lay out two holes so the guide can be bolted to two of the hub holes, straddling the broken one, and a third one right in line with the broken one. Drill the third hole so that the drill you'll be using will just enter it. If you lay out carefully, the third hole will force your bit to cut right down the center of the broken stud.
When you have a good stable hole established, remove your plate, bear down hard on the drill, causing it to snag, which will usually turn the broken stud out. It takes a bit if finesse, but it usually works quite well. A broken drill bit is way easier to remove than a broken screw extractor. The new spiral cutter type rotary tools have bits which will cut a drill stub like butter.
Another trick I learned while working as a gunsmith is to use Aviation Permatex liquid as a drill lubricant when drilling hard steel. It keeps the drill sharp and helps keep the chips from packing, which is the usual reason for breakage. try it!
Cheers!
Jack
In a message dated Sat, 26 May 2001 6:20:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Richard Notton" <Richard@fv623.demon.co.uk> writes, in his usual dry humourous way:
It is not easy, or out either.
>if it breaks off
>
As they invariably do, likely being made by The Snap-Off Tool Company, you
are into a serious problem needing either a very special drill or spark
erosion to remove it.
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