Removing a sheared bleeder valve

[mdurkin]

Hi All,
I have a double rad at home, with the bleeders in recessed holes between the 2 radiator chambers. One of them is completely sheared (all the square edges rounded off) and a normal rad key won't grip it at all any more. The bleeder is just slightly open, but no tool I own will move it at all.
I have a spare bleed screw I just need to get this one out.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get it out? Access is very tight as the bleed screw is recessed, and between the 2 radiator chambers, so I only have about 1 3/4" gap. I also don't think there's enough of a flat edge left on it anywhere to grip with a small spanner, even if I had one that would fit.
Is there any kind of tiny wrench that would go into this kind of gap?

My only other option is to throw the rad which I'm reluctant to do!
Any advice appreciated,
Matt

 

[mdurkin]

just cut a hole through the middle, so I could put a screwdriver blade in.
Fail.
bleed split in 2.
now wondering if there's any way to drill it out with such tight access.
Looking awfully like a new rad...
I certainly won't be buying one with this kind of bleed valve...

 

[45yearsagasman]

I don't like your chances of repairing that. Access is impossible to drill the screw out (the rear one is not so bad)
Looking more like a new rad to me, unless others have another suggestion.

 

[TonyW2]

Drill, then stud remover tool

 

[45yearsagasman]

Drill, then stud remover tool

Tony, that is a double panel (Stelrad I think) and the type where the bleed screw is behind the front panel, between that and the rear panel.
What sort of drill do you suggest?

 

[Burnerman]

If you can't get a drill in mate then call it a day......your move cutting a screwdriver slot in the thing was a good one....very bad luck.
John

 

[MANDATE]

Perhaps fitting the bleed key back on with araldite might work

 

[ukrobj]

Araldite won't work, tried it too many times, afraid to say, by the time you've faffed about, you could put on a new rad. If you really didn't want to replace it, you could drill the rad at the front, tap the hole and that way you could have a visible bleed screw, done that a couple of times, but not pretty, cheap easy route though.