Cover Anchor Catastrophic Failure

[JerseyJacko]

I have a cover anchor that failed in a way I've never seen, and I could use some suggestions to get it out please.

It seems the cup part of the brass anchor broke in half. The top part of the anchor with the threads and the screw came out, but the bottom part is deep in the hole. This is keeping me from just dropping in a new anchor. I'm going to speculate that if the anchor broke in this way, that the bottom part of the anchor is not just sitting loose on the bottom of the hole, but that it's wedged in tight.

Any thoughts on how to best approach this situation? Do I drill, tap, and use a spacer tube, like when an anchor screw is seized? I think this could pull it up off center and lock it in, and pop out a piece of concrete. Or, I could use a 3/4" drill bit and just drill the whole thing until I reach concrete below it.

Thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Newdude]

Hey JJ and Welcome !!!

Got any pics ? I doubt you'd be able to drill through the old anchor. I'd use a thick bolt with a hammer to give it some love taps to try and dislodge it. If you can't get it out, you can add a new hole a few inches further.

That one being off will drive you crazy of course, but it'll function fine.

 

[JerseyJacko]

Here are a couple pics. It's about two inches down. I tapped it with a screwdriver and hammer and didn't see any movement. It's possible that there is some space around it, so it may just be sitting down there.

@Newdude... why wouldn't I be able to drill it?

 

[ajw22]

A pool company would just drill a new anchor hole before or after the old hole and adjust the strap.

 

[Bperry]

Here are a couple pics. It's about two inches down. I tapped it with a screwdriver and hammer and didn't see any movement. It's possible that there is some space around it, so it may just be sitting down there.

@Newdude... why wouldn't I be able to drill it?


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If its brass, you can probably drill it. But it might not do you any good if it just spins in the hole.

 

[Newdude]

I'd try sinking a 1/4 inch (?) Drill bit into it and the remove it from the drill. You might be able to then pull from the drill bit.

 

[jark87]

Do you even need that particular anchor? Our cover has so many anchors that I’ve gotten to where I don’t use them all, mostly because once I get to the last few, the cover is so tight that I can’t pull it far enough to set the hook in the anchor. The cover is still plenty taught and not securing every anchor doesn’t have any effect on allowing debris in. I usually leave 2-3 unhooked at various points around the pool.

If you don’t need it and just don’t like the look, you could fill the hole. As someone said, you could always have it redrilled if you wanted to add it back in the future.

 

[wireform]

Well you could get it out and my take is:
You drill 2 holes where I've indicated with a small drill bit and obviously it'll eat out the brass and not the concrete but that's fine. Then use 2 nails (common type) with heads slightly larger then the drill bit in size and drive them in to lock the brass from spinning. Next step, drill a hole in the center large enough to use a long lag bolt larger in size then the hole just drilled and let it bite the brass real well. At his point remove the nails and then with leverage get under the head of the lag bolt to lift it out.

 

[griffths]

It may be loose in the hole. The only part of the anchor that is a tight fit is the top collar which appears to be sheared off.



I have replaced many anchors over the years and have never had to redrill a hole or do anything extraordinary to remove a broken one.

 

[JamesW]

 

[griffths]

An additional thought came to mind.

If the anchor is loose in the hole you could try to blow it out using an air compressor and blow gun. If you direct the air along the side of the hole I suspect enough will find its way beneath the remaining part of the anchor to blow it out of the hole.

Don't forget the eye protection.

 

[poollifeguard]

Drilling might work, but I'm a bit worried about potentially damaging the concrete. Have you considered using a small hook or wire to try and fish it out?

 

[JamesW]

Drill a hole in the center and tap in threads.

Screw a bolt into the threads and pull it out.

Milwaukee 1/4 in. -20 NC Straight Flute Plug Tap and #7 Drill Bit 49-57-5534 - The Home Depot

The MILWAUKEE® Straight Flute Plug Tap & Drill Bit sets include a precision machined Plug Tap for creating or repairing clean, accurate (internal) threads, as well as the corresponding drill bit for piloting.

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Milwaukee 5/16 in. -18 Straight Flute Plug Tap and F Drill Bit 49-57-5542 - The Home Depot

The MILWAUKEE® Straight Flute Plug Tap & Drill Bit sets include a precision machined Plug Tap for creating or repairing clean, accurate (internal) threads, as well as the corresponding drill bit for piloting.

www.homedepot.com

Drill America 5/16 in. -24 High Speed Steel Tap and I Drill Bit Set (2-Piece) POU5/16-24 - The Home Depot

Hand Tap and Drill Set comes with 1-high speed steel hand tap (plug style) and matching HSS black oxide drill bit in a plastic pouch. Drill Bit Information: A dependable, general purpose drill designed

www.homedepot.com

 

[JerseyJacko]

Success! Thanks for all the ideas!

I tried to pick it out, but couldn't get anything to grab it. Then I used a 5/16 drill bit and started to drill. It felt like the anchor was spinning, so I pushed down hard and it started to bite. After getting into the brass a bit, I just pulled the drill up, and the anchor came with it. I had a tap ready if needed, but it wasn't necessary (and the anchor probably would have just spun if I tried).

I just dropped in a new anchor, and it's as good as new.

Here's the old anchor fragment.