Ideas on removing broken check valves

[Bruce L]

My wife has been tapping in hundreds of check valves behind me this spring,our teenage son helped some this afternoon after the bus run,but problem is he broke off three check valves in the trees not hitting them square or something.I tried pulling them with vice grips,but to no avail,any ideas?

[Sunday Rock Maple]

If there is enough sticking out to grab on to then try the handle (inside) grips on a pair of linemans pliers and then pull back on the handle and the front of the pliers acts as a fulcrum --- they come right out (or at least I've been able to pull intact ones that way -- never had any broken ones). If that doesn't work I'd drill and re-tap.

[lpakiz]

Bruce, could you find the right size sheet metal screw or construction screw or lag bolt and screw it into the center of the tap. Then a claw hammer or something like that....

[sugartree310]

Cut off flush or as close to bark that you can and then very carefully drill it out!!

[Mark]

The sharp angle on the tapping bit will grab the piece left in the tree. I am using the Canadian tapping bit that most suppliers sell. My help broke some off and they came out easy.

[Bruce L]

I did the idea with a wood screw,3" #10,yanked the broken check valves out,thanks guys.