Tighten headbolts with a T55 Torx bit?

[mtnbob]

The only thing that I can find that fits my headbolts is a T55 Torx bit. It fits it solidly, but it is only a 6 point bit where the headbolt is a 12. Is this a really bad idea? Thank you for everyones continued patience while I attemt to get back on the road!!!!!!

[mtnbob]

Ok I got through the first two tighten downs, now I bought the proper tool for the two final tightenings!!!!

[rs899]

You are scaring me, man....

[mtnbob]

 

[bbob203]

go to napa and buy a 12mm triple square xzn bit for less than 10 bucks.

[mtnbob]

Easier said than done, when your engine is out of your only car  

I found the right part after a intensive search of tools!

[ORCoaster]

I now own one of those bits and have the 10 mm hex head bolts.  When I redid the headgasket about a year ago I borrowed a t55 and it worked fine.  Somehow I forgot they were hex and for 8 bucks at the local tool outlet I got the 12 pt.  I will just keep it as they are kind of snotty about returns.  Not worth the money.  Besides I may end up with a Rabbit that needs it some day soon.  Have to talk to the neighbor again this weekend. 

[R.O.R-2.0]

I now own one of those bits and have the 10 mm hex head bolts.  When I redid the headgasket about a year ago I borrowed a t55 and it worked fine.  Somehow I forgot they were hex and for 8 bucks at the local tool outlet I got the 12 pt.  I will just keep it as they are kind of snotty about returns.  Not worth the money.  Besides I may end up with a Rabbit that needs it some day soon.  Have to talk to the neighbor again this weekend. 

most other VWs use the triple square head bolts..

only OLD vws use the 10mm hex bolts..

[bbob203]

I now own one of those bits and have the 10 mm hex head bolts.  When I redid the headgasket about a year ago I borrowed a t55 and it worked fine.  Somehow I forgot they were hex and for 8 bucks at the local tool outlet I got the 12 pt.  I will just keep it as they are kind of snotty about returns.  Not worth the money.  Besides I may end up with a Rabbit that needs it some day soon.  Have to talk to the neighbor again this weekend. 

I am that guy that will buy a tool use it clean it off good and return it. 

[ORCoaster]

My sons do that and I cuss them out about it.  They call it the buynreturn policy.  Having been on the retail side of things it is not fair to the store owner/operator to do that.  When we would get stuff back like that the ladies up at the counter had to do paperwork thus they were not waiting on customers bringing dollars into the store.  Then I would take that paperwork and include more paperwork to either get credit for the return or permission to send it back.  Once that disposition came in from the parent company we could either reduce the price by the amount given from the parent company or just return it for full credit.  Kind of depended on if the item was totally broken or as you say, cleaned real good and taken back.

We had this discount counter where we could put that stuff for a reduced price and we salemen/ladies would watch for folks shopping for those items and refer them to the bargain bin if we could.  But sometimes a dented item stayed there a long time. 

My point is that it costs the store not the corporation.  My time or anyone's time is not cheap.  And pushing paper is not using the time we had very well.  People needed assistance in the hardware business.  Most did not know what they needed or could do for a repair.  Better to ask, well they couldn't if I was at the desk loosing both sales and assistance capability.

That is why I will keep the item rather than return it.  Otherwise next time I go in it may be a dollar more rather than on the bargain counter. 

DAS

[theman53]

Long time ago I took out some head bolts with the torx and stripped one. The heat treat process isn't like a normal bolt as these "stretch" and IMHO the head of the bolt isn't the greatest.

[mtnbob]

I will be doing the final to rotations with the proper tool.


BTW one one the bolts seems a tiny bit easier to turn than the others. Should that concern me or should it feel similar to the others and maybe it needs a little extra turn?