remove manifold bolts

Howard Parker · Feb 25, 2016

I need to replace exhaust manifold gaskets on my 70 gas John Deere It looks like the bolts are rusted in place Is there anything I can do before I try to remove them? will heat crack the head if used? or should I just grind the heads off the bolts and remove the manifold that way? thanks for any advise Howard

dr sportster · Feb 25, 2016

You will get lots of advice on this one. For me I like to heat the heck out of them ,then soak. Then the next morning when they are cool they usually will turn out. For the soaking I have used wax , Kroil, Atf with lac thinner . you name it . Grinding the heads is admitting defeat before you try.

jeo46 · Feb 25, 2016

Weld 5/8 nut onto manifold bolt head, let it cool a little, put some heat on head where bolt enters head (not too much-head may crack if too much heat is used) and slowly work the bolt loose using just enough torque to move it forward and backward. Reheat 5/8 nut if you can't get it to move and keep reheating it and the head until you get the manifold bolt to work loose. I have have had good success using this method removing bolts that are half rusted through.

Howard Parker · Feb 25, 2016

I had a friend twist 3 bolts off on his 620 John Deere manifold a few years ago so I now they will break off cost him alot more money getting them drilled out at a shop (yes he's alot more rammy then me) I just want to save the head and some money thanks Howard

SanDogDewey · Feb 25, 2016

I broke 3 of 4 off when removing the manifold off my M. I soaked them for a week with Kroil. They still didn't move. I put an air chisel on the end of the bolts and gave them a good rattle. Put a pair of vice grips on them and they started to wiggle. A little more Kroil and wiggling and they all came out. I think the air chisel broke the rust between the bolt and the head.

Bob · Feb 25, 2016

The Dr. is correct, heat the SNOT out of the studs near the head.

You can heat them to the point they start to melt without fear of cracking the head.

Let them cool to ambient, repeat the heating/cooling cycle a couple of times, then wiggle loose the remains of the studs when COOL. "Loosen Juice" is secondary to the heating but helpful.

JD Seller · Feb 25, 2016

Those bolts are a hard one to get out. I have cut the heads but I usually try heating and wiggling first, second and then maybe cutting the heads off then. I also have had to break the manifold as the bolts can be rusted solid in the manifold too. Usually you can heat the head/bolt after you get the manifold out of the way, and get the bolt to wiggle out. Also the skunk pee of any brand does little to nothing on rusted solid bolts. You have to get them to move some for the liquids to actually do much good.

The air hammer idea can work. I have also hit the top and sides of bolts with just a hammer an punch to shake them some. I have found if your doing this do it DRY first and blow any loosen rust out with compressed air. If you spray it with any type of penetrating oil the rust is caught and you can't blow it out. So I usually start out with them dry and then IF I can get some movement I then use some type of lubricant.

Kenneth Ronald Ohnstad · Feb 25, 2016

Don't forget candle wax.

ohiojim · Feb 26, 2016

like bob said,..heat is your friend, heat them really hot and let them cool 2 or 3 times then work them, if they don't move do it all over again,...they'll come

Blackhole49 · Feb 26, 2016

Don't know similar it is to my neighbor's JD B. We were able to get 3 of the 4 nuts off the studs with heat (studs were shot). One stud broke off flush with the manifold (also shot). Had to break the manifold off that stud and it didn't give easy. Two of the studs came out of the head with repeated heat and wax, the other 2 broke off flush with the head. Put the head on my bridgeport and drilled a hole through the remaining 2. One came out with heat and an easy out. We had to drill the last one flush with the threads an peal the threads out one thread at a time with a tap. Saved the head, but it took several hours over a couple of days. Would have never happened without removing the head.

jeffcat · Feb 26, 2016

Also buy yourself a GOOD set of commercial grade Left hand drill bits.

remove manifold bolts

Howard Parker

Member

dr sportster

Well-known Member

jeo46

Member

Howard Parker

Member

SanDogDewey

Member

Bob

Well-known Member

JD Seller

Well-known Member

Kenneth Ronald Ohnstad

Member

ohiojim

Well-known Member

Blackhole49

Well-known Member

jeffcat

Well-known Member

Similar threads