Hex head vs. square head? And Grade 5 vs 8?

Mike CA · Nov 4, 2009

I just removed the square head bolts off my front wheels from my '44 H. All 6 of them are bent. Would there be any problem in using hex head bolts in place of the square head? It looks like a hex head will fit fine.

For front wheels, should I buy Grade 5 or Grade 8? I'm guessing 8.

Leon Torkelson · Nov 5, 2009

Hex head bolts will work fine. Grade 5 bolts will do the job. Grade 8 are stronger but cost more, it s your money. The correct poliece will want square head bolts and they work better because you don t have to hold the head. I don t ever remember seeing Grade markings on square head bolts, but I could be wrong.

farmall hfan · Nov 5, 2009

Spend the money and buy square heads. The owner of my H used the other and what a pain to get off after they have been on awhile. Using a screw driver or pry bar on the back side and a air tool on the front is not fun. I changed them out to square heads and much easier to deal with.

Dblair · Nov 5, 2009

you can get grade 8 square head but you will have to go to a fastener supplier most likely the original bolts were grade 8 just like the lug bolts in your car are grade 8

Dave_Id · Nov 5, 2009

My guess is the old square bolts were class 2. I would go with class 5, Hex bolts in those pockets can spin easier when removing. Less metal contact. McMaster Carr carries them and are reasonable

Duanes · Nov 5, 2009

Fastenall can also get you square head bolts.

ScottyHOMeY · Nov 5, 2009

Interesting to see that McMaster has gone back to Grade 5 on their square-heads. There were a few years there that they were all Grade 2. Learned that the hard way. (Is that a pun? :roll: )

The plain bolts they sell are unrated, but the zinc-plated are Grade 5, which should be plenty for Mike's purposes.

I had the good/bad fortune when I was in Ohio to live just about 6 minutes from the McMaster-Carr will-call desk. Handy, but costly.

Larry B 1486 · Nov 5, 2009

It's all acording to where the bolts are manafactured at today on how strong they are today. I have a friend that is a salesman for granger supply that told me back last Dec.that the quality in the steel in bolts today are not what it was 20 years ago. Thats because 90%, yes I said 90 comes out of china. Today a china grade 8 bolt is NOT as strong as a 5 made in the US 15-20 years ago. It's sad but I guess we just have to keep buying junk out of china.

bc · Nov 5, 2009

If they were bent, I'd suspect grade 2. The higher the grade the more likely they break and not bend.

So grade 5 would be plenty or go back with 2.

Hex or square depends upon if you are using a wrench or socket. Tight squares are ok if you can get a wrench on them but anything recessed just about takes a socket.

You also need to look at the recommended torque before making your decision.

cd1 · Nov 5, 2009

also 12 point sockets and wrenches can tighten square fasteners. They also used to (well maybe they still do) make 8 point sockets just for square fasteners.

Red Mist · Nov 5, 2009

Best $ I ever spent for my H and M was an 8-point 15/16" "square-head" socket for my rear rims. $16 on ebay.
mike

Hex head vs. square head? And Grade 5 vs 8?

Mike CA

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Leon Torkelson

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farmall hfan

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Dblair

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Dave_Id

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Duanes

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ScottyHOMeY

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Larry B 1486

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bc

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cd1

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Red Mist

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