Are you saying the mast broke off and its threaded end is still in the base on the fender? If that is correct, get a small left-handed drill bit and drill a hole in the center of that stud. If you are lucky, the drill bit will catch and walk the stud out. If you are not lucky, drill the hole at least a half inch deep, then use an "Easy Out" to remove the stud. You typically have to buy a set of these tools. Use the largest one that will thread into the hole. Tap it down with a small hammer as you tighten it counter-clockwise with a wrench. The goal is to get the tool's sharp edges to cut into the sides of the hole as it threads down. Once they dig in hard enough, the stud will come loose and thread out.
There is a different type of bolt remover that is harder to find but might work better on such a small stud. Its cutting edges are straight along the tool instead of curved. Once the hole is drilled, this tool is hammered into it, and the sharp edges cut their own matching grooves as it goes in. Once solidly in place, another part of the tool is slid over it and it is turned with a wrench to run the stud out.
The friction between the base and the bottom of the mast are what holds the mast tight. Once the mast is broken off, some of these studs are left loose in the base. Before you start drilling, see if you can rotate the stud with a pick or a pair of picks. If you do have to drill a hole, using a normal drill bit will try to thread the stud in tighter. That is why you should use a left-handed drill bit. It may not cause the stud to thread out, but at least it will not run it in tighter. In case it is not obvious, a left-handed drill bit cuts when the electric drill is run backward.
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Tuesday, February 13th, 2018 AT 5:13 PM
