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Rusted bolts

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Mike CA

09-09-2007 11:58:58




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I've got a light bar with a pair of lights that had been sitting outside for some unknown amount of time. The bolts are pretty stuck to the studs on the lights. I hosed them with WD-40 and I've applied a good amount of muscle behind it. The problem is that when I give it a good jolt to break the nut loose, it actually spins the light around instead of moving the nut.
So, what's a good way to go about this? I've got WD-40, a big combo wrench, and a lot of weight to put behind it. Anything else I will need to borrow or buy.

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K.B.-826

09-09-2007 21:38:45




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
Mike, remove the light bulbs from the lamp assmebley. You'll probably find that the "stud" is actually just an ordinary carrige bolt. If so, just cut the nut off and replace the bolt.



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Bob Kerr

09-09-2007 16:36:55




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
I saw something at Wal mart the other day and like an idiot I didn"t get some. I will the next time I go there. It is a "Freeze spray" made by liquid wrench. You spray it on just the bolt and it will shrink the metal and break the rust bond. It was about 4 bucks. It basicly does the opposite of heating! Get some and let us know how it works!



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Steven f/AZ

09-09-2007 16:11:55




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
Mike, there are two types of wrenches that are indispensible when working on old iron (and newer iron as well!):

1. Impact wrench

2. Fire wrench

The impact wrench will break bolts loose that would have been twisted off with a breaker bar and cheater pipe. The vibration works them loose - I very seldom twist a bolt off using the impact wrench. I prefer the air powered, but electric are also available if you don't have a good sized air compressor.

The fire wrench is an acetylene (sp?) torch. You can get a decent set up for under $100 from Lowe's or Home Depot (at least where I'm at) and they can point you in the right direction to get tanks (you can rent or buy tanks).

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RustyFarmall

09-09-2007 15:09:55




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
Heat is the easiest and safest, but be careful or you will end up damaging the headlamp. Also, do not attempt to hold the headlamp while turning that nut, or you will end up turning the bolt inside of the lamp housing and then you just wrecked a perfectly good set of lights.



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GordoSD

09-09-2007 14:08:04




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
WD-40 is the poorest of the penetrants. It is actuall mostly fish oil, and is a water displacement formula. You need to buy, PB Blaster, or 'Loosen All' or the penetrationg oil that IH sells. Or you can cut the bolt woth a sawsall. Gordo



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Mike CA

09-09-2007 13:25:14




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
A Bic lighter! I have one of those! Better yet, I have a BBQ lighter!

Ok, I almost knew someone would mention heat. So, I think I should break down and get the cheapest thing I can find (Harbor Frieght)

Luckily I haven't found a bolt that hasn't come loose on the tractor itself. That was a pretty good restoration and better yet it was kept in doors for many years. These lights, however, are from a junk pile. Some other parts I'm getting are from a junk yards as well. So I might as well be somewhat prepared.

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El Toro

09-09-2007 13:47:17




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 13:25:14  
Get that small bottle of map gas that Red mentioned. You may be able to buy a small torch like the one I have that has the ignitor on the torch. The map gas will get a lot hotter. I will take a picture of the torch I have and post it on Monday. Home Depot and probably Lowes have these torches. If you buy one don't leave the torch on the cylinder when not in use. Hal



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IndianaRed

09-09-2007 13:15:45




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
If you're like me, you don't have a torch to heat with. Just another in the long list of things that make it easier to work on these tractors if you have. I went to Lowes and got a little mini torch cutting unti, has two small bottles, on Oxygen, on map gas, or something, works like an acetylene torch, just on a way smaller scale. I think it might cut tin foil, but that's about it. It does work for heating up bolts like these. Helped me get some bigger, and I'm sure even more stuck than yours, bolts loose during my project. Expensive short cut, but they've lasted for quite a while, longer than I thought they would.

All these guys on the farm with shops and tools and all kinds of good stuff don't know how good they have it. And how hard it is for us kooks trying to overhaul with a bobby-pin, a bic lighter, and a hammer. :)

Good Luck,

Bri

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El Toro

09-09-2007 12:32:39




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
Heat them red hot and the try to loosen them. Hal



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Bob

09-09-2007 12:38:01




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to El Toro, 09-09-2007 12:32:39  
Better yet, heat them up a couple of times, and let them cool to ambient temp in between, then let them cool, apply some of your favorite "loosen juice" and loosen them.

Trying to loosen them while hot will often cause the metal to gall, making removal more difficult, if not impossible.



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Janicholson

09-09-2007 12:09:01




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 Re: Rusted bolts in reply to Mike CA, 09-09-2007 11:58:58  
The clamp bolts can be removed by splitting the nuts.
Take apart the light to prevent breakage, and put the bolt head on a steel surface (like the draw bar U) so that one of the flats of the nut is flat on the metal. Use a sharp cold chisel and hammer to split the nut in the direction of the bolts centerline. The flat is the closest point to the threads, and as you repeatedly hit the same mark (be careful) the nut will swell and release the pressure on the bolt. No problem. Have someone hold the light so that the person with the hammer can be effective and accurate.
Practicing on a spare rusty bolt is a good idea. JimN

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