removal of stuck bolt

[bzrspeed]

Hi...
A little stuck, have 18 bolts to remove, all have a hex head of between 1.5inch and 2inch and are about 5 to 8 inchs long.

They have been stuck in place for over 40 years. I have tried to heat them with an oxy, used a truck sized air socket, still will not budge. Drilling them out is not an option. Any ideas???

[Stott69]

Have you tryed crc and the likes? What are the on?

[bzrspeed]

yes tried crc 5.56,

these are on an old french 4x4

[Lloyd]

Soak them in CRC/Penetrate/RostOff etc. Leave it for a bit, come back and soak it some more. Probably want to do that ever half hour for a couple of hours just to make sure it really gets in there. Depending on the orientation of the bolts you might be able to get them soaking. Preference would be for RostOff, seems to work a lot better than the other options out there.

Then see if they come off, otherwise back to the heat again. And failing that.... break the bastards.

[Dell'Orto]

Rost Off Ice/ Loctite Freeze Spray is also good for really stubborn bolts

[bzrspeed]

thank you all very much. Will give it a try

[Adoom]

Hi...
A little stuck, have 18 bolts to remove, all have a hex head of between 1.5inch and 2inch and are about 5 to 8 inchs long.

WOW! Those bolts are HUUUGE!!
Can you use a REALLY long lever? Like 2 metres long...
I once had to use a propshaft with a 1" socket welded to it as the mother of all breaker bars to undo some epic tight hub nuts.
With bolts that big, I wouldn't think you could break them?

[Grrrrrrr!]

Hi...
A little stuck, have 18 bolts to remove, all have a hex head of between 1.5inch and 2inch and are about 5 to 8 inchs long.

WOW! Those bolts are HUUUGE!!
Can you use a REALLY long lever? Like 2 metres long...
I once had to use a propshaft with a 1" socket welded to it as the mother of all breaker bars to undo some epic tight hub nuts.
With bolts that big, I wouldn't think you could break them?

With a big enough lever you can break any bolt...

Anyway, only thing I can add is to use the penetrant spray and try to work the bolt back and forward a little to help it penetrate. so spray the Rostoff on and then try to torque it forward and back a bit.

Also, you've tried heat, but what about heat and cold? Heat up what ever the bolt is wound into as much as safe, then hold a block of ice against the head of the bolt to cool it down. Hole expands, bolt contracts and hopefully the thermal stress will be enough to help break the corrosion layer.

[bzrspeed]

the steel is 500 bdu strength, heat treated, so an oxy would not even heat the steel around the bolts. also the peice weights close to 1 ton so it also has pressure on them. Have a forkey hooked up to hold it.

Got a good size breaker bar, tried the rocking way but still wont budge. Dont want to drill them as it would be an ass to replace.

Not having a good weekend. Needed this off by thursday. Boss aint going to be happy.

[cat007]

I'd use some sort of penetrating crc type spray every half hour like someone suggested. Might need to leave it for more than a few hours though for it to soak through if you can't rock the bolt back and forth at all...

[bzrspeed]

We covered them in crc, a lot of crc and will have another go tomorrow. We managed to strip the engine and transmisson out over the last few days.

But all thats a waste of time unless we can get the side panels off.

[Grrrrrrr!]

the steel is 500 bdu strength, heat treated, so an oxy would not even heat the steel around the bolts. also the piece weighs close to 1 ton so it also has pressure on them. Have a forkey hooked up to hold it.

Got a good size breaker bar, tried the rocking way but still wont budge. Dont want to drill them as it would be an ass to replace.

Not having a good weekend. Needed this off by thursday. Boss aint going to be happy.

No idea what 500 bdu is in any units i've ever heard of, but really doesn't matter. Just means you can pull harder before the head of the bolt shears off.

Heat is heat, add heat and things get warm. If the object you are trying to heat up is big, use a bigger oxy torch, or several of them. Throw enough heat at it and it will get warm, then hold a big chunk of ice against the head of the bolt.

If that doesn't work, more crc/rostoff, throw a big length of pipe on the end of your breaker bar and pull till something gives... and hope its not the head of the bolt. If you haven't got room to swing a big bit of pipe (2-3m i'm thinking since it sounds like you are talking about 24-30mm bolts) go buy atorque multiplier. if 3000Nm doesn't break it free, you are pretty %^&*ed.

[Mr Revhead]

Forget CRC, not good enough. Try something like Chemz penetrating spray or Cyclo breakaway.
Need something pretty good to penetrate that far.

[allencr]

Penetrate on the threads more so then the head, and shock, wallop the head in every direction you can get to, with as much force as you can without $&#$% it up.
Impact wrench, 3/4 or 1in drive, 160psi air pressure with more then adequate flowing fittings!!!!!!!!!!
Freon & those freeze sprays are kinda $$ for the quantity you'd need, LNG/propane cools pretty well, just watch for sparks!!!
Any heavy equipment shops nearby that you can BS with?
Good luck.
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Striking Wrench

[bzrspeed]

Managed to get 2 bolts out, 5 hours work and 2 bolts are out!!

Ended up borrowing the truck workshops breakbar and hitting it with a sledge. There has to be a better way!!

If I can get some dry ice and use that on the head and heat the steel would that help? Or would it be too cold? The nuts are part of the side skirts so can get to them untill the outer plate is off.

[RunningRich]

Dry ice is fine but in-situ you will get too much conduction.

Sustained High torque. Long pole or mickey mouse a torque converter into position.