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Model Forum / General / Models / August 2009



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Not quite model engineering but worth a try...

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Toby - 16 Aug 2009 16:07 GMT
Hi all

My neighbour, aware of my engineering interests and workshop, has
asked for some assistance with one of his old tractors.  It has
adjustable width front axle as shown in the photo at
http://www.chatstractors.com/1440-Allis-Chalmers-tractor-cover.htm
although its not exactly the same as the one shown.

He’s managed to remove 3 of the 3/4" bolts but the 4th is seized solid
(in the row of holes across the front axle beam).  He’s beaten the end
so much that it mushroomed and he then ground it back to flush before
trying to drill it through (off centre and out of alignment).  He
broke a 12mm drill off in the hole but managed to remove the piece.
He’s also tried using a large set of Stilsons on the bolt head with a
scaffold bar for extra leverage but only managed to begin to destroy
the bolt head.  At that point I was asked for advice.

I’ve tried continuing with the drilling with several more broken
drills to show for it when they bite/grab at the bottom of the hole.
I don’t think a hand held machine offers enough control.  We’re going
to try an electromagnetic base drill when the local hire shop gets
theirs back from a site.

I’ve also tried hitting a length of metal set in the hole but the rust
has had a long time to build up a really good grip.

Other people have said that heating should help but I’m not sure how.
All the parts involved are almost certainly steel and hence will
expand at the same rate.  I can only think that lots of heat (oxy/
acetylene to a dull red heat) might change the rust to something
weaker so that a few good hammer blows will shift it.

So, any and all suggestions welcome.

Cheers

Toby
Pip Luscher - 16 Aug 2009 17:44 GMT
>Other people have said that heating should help but I’m not sure how.
>All the parts involved are almost certainly steel and hence will
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>So, any and all suggestions welcome.

Heat works. I found this out many years ago when trying to remove an
oil filter bolt frm a motorbik engine: it had been well and truly
rounded and *nothing* would shift it. I arc welded an extension onto
it and to my surprise, it turned easily. I've been a convert ever
since.

Arc- welding a large nut or temporary tommy bar (it doesn't need to
complete a full turn, just enough to work the bolt loose) to the bolt
head will provide leverage and the thermal shock may well loosen it,
even though the heat is going to the bolt, not the axle beam.

Signature

-Pip

Cliff Coggin - 16 Aug 2009 17:49 GMT
Other people have said that heating should help but I’m not sure how.
All the parts involved are almost certainly steel and hence will
expand at the same rate.  I can only think that lots of heat (oxy/
acetylene to a dull red heat) might change the rust to something
weaker so that a few good hammer blows will shift it.

So, any and all suggestions welcome.

Cheers

Toby

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat can be very helpful when all else fails, but beware there are no heat
sensitive components such as rubber, hydraulic lines, wiring etc. in the
vicinity. I used this technique years ago on car steering ball joints when
the tapered section rusted into the socket, although I only had a butane
torch so it was nowhere near red-hot.

Cliff Coggin.
Nobby Anderson - 16 Aug 2009 18:05 GMT
> Other people have said that heating should help but I?m not sure how.
> All the parts involved are almost certainly steel and hence will
> expand at the same rate.  I can only think that lots of heat (oxy/
> acetylene to a dull red heat) might change the rust to something
> weaker so that a few good hammer blows will shift it.

Heating it may well help - if you heat just the bolt head it will heat
up faster than the surrounding steelwork and therefore expand slightly
faster.  You only need a tiny differential to crack the rust seal.

Nobby
Mark Rand - 16 Aug 2009 20:23 GMT
>Hi all

>He’s managed to remove 3 of the 3/4" bolts but the 4th is seized solid
>(in the row of holes across the front axle beam).  He’s beaten the end
>so much that it mushroomed and he then ground it back to flush before
>trying to drill it through (off centre and out of alignment).

Turn a 7/8" hex down drift down to fit the bolt as close as reasonable.
Preferably harden to mid 40's HRC and drive it with a demolition hammer. If
left soft, allow for more clearance

Mark Rand
RTFM
Nigel Eaton - 16 Aug 2009 22:19 GMT
In article
<539f1da4-dc18-47e6-bf26-a7d950f9e4fc@r7g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>, Toby
<tobybishop@aol.com> writes
>I’ve tried continuing with the drilling with several more broken
>drills to show for it when they bite/grab at the bottom of the hole.
>I don’t think a hand held machine offers enough control.  We’re going
>to try an electromagnetic base drill when the local hire shop gets
>theirs back from a site.

I have had very good success with LH drill bits in this sort of
situation. As you get closer to the ID of the tread they usually grab
and spin the remainder out.

As others have said, heat is also good and the arc-welding a stub on
trick has worked for me too,

Signature

Nigel

When the only tools you have are an X3 mill, a
Colchester and assorted other stuff, every problem looks like a steam engine.

John - 16 Aug 2009 23:40 GMT
> In article
> <539f1da4-dc18-47e6-bf26-a7d950f9e...@r7g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>, Toby
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> When the only tools you have are an X3 mill, a
> Colchester and assorted other stuff, every problem looks like a steam engine.

Toby

As others have said heat will help.

I've done this sort of thing numerous times and watched other people
in other places such as car exhaust centres who also use heat to get
rusted together bolts etc undone.

You need oxy/acetylene to get enough heat, a big jet because of the
size of work you are doing, a slightly 'soft' flame so you don't burn
the metal and be prepared to get the job really hot - almost white
hot. Wear leather gloves. Have your drift and a big club hammer ready
and, if you can, have someone else do the drifting while you play the
flame on the job. Try not to play the flame on to the guy who is doing
the drifting - they don't like it!

John H
jackary - 17 Aug 2009 09:26 GMT
> > In article
> > <539f1da4-dc18-47e6-bf26-a7d950f9e...@r7g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>, Toby
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> John H

Why don't you hack saw the nut axially in chordal fashion. Two cuts
should do it. hard work but will work.
Alan
Austin Shackles - 31 Aug 2009 08:17 GMT
>> > In article
>> > <539f1da4-dc18-47e6-bf26-a7d950f9e...@r7g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>, Toby
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>should do it. hard work but will work.
>Alan

I think some of you are barking up the wrong tree.  The bolt is solid in the
hole, the nut's off and the protruding bolt been cut, as I read it.

I assume the OP has already been down the route of plenty of GOOD
penetrating oil (not WD40!) and leave it for a week.

I'd second the thing about heat, and the one about the kango hammer is worth
a try.

The final option is probably to remove the axle and take it somewhere where
there's a big enough press.  You might get results by removing the axle,
laying it on something very solid (with, obvsiously, a hole for the bolt
head to move into) and, with a suitable drift, pounding it with a big
sledgehammer.  The key is support: when the axle's on the tractor, as I tend
to assume it is, hammering doesn't work so well as it's not held rigid
enough.  You need good, solid support around the bolt head (a bit of VERY
thick wall tube would be good).  You might end up making it: take a lump bar
about 4", bore for clearnace around the bolt-head, place the whole on some
very good concrete or put on a wide, stiff plate.  The support has to be
close around the head or the axle will spring (or even possibly be damaged).
You need the close support for using a press, too - but most people with
presses have a stock of such things.  

Don't understimate the force a good swing with a sledgehammer can generate:
I was once trying to get a tubular steel gatepost (about 2½" dia) into some
quite hard ground, got a chap with handy JCB to lean it on the end, and it
didn't shift.  The JCB is about 7 tons, and half of it was off the deck, so
at least 3 tons on the post.  But hammering with a 10-lb sledge eventually
drove it in.
Signature

Austin Shackles.  www.ddol-las.net  my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy!  Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\  
  >>  http://www.schlockmercenary.com/  <<      \  ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

Toby - 17 Aug 2009 14:07 GMT
> As others have said heat will help.

> You need oxy/acetylene to get enough heat, a big jet because of the
> size of work you are doing, a slightly 'soft' flame so you don't burn
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> John H-

Thanks to you all for the words of encouragement regarding heat.  It
looks like the way ahead.  Several people have suggested using an arc
welder to put the heat in, even without actually trying to weld
something specific onto the bolt.  But I like the idea of welding a
big tommy bar onto the bolt head - two birds with one stone comes to
mind.  I'll give it a try and report back in a week or two - off to
the South West on Wednesday.  Might even pass some of you without
knowing it at the Bristol show at the weekend.

cheers

Toby
mark - 17 Aug 2009 15:25 GMT
> > As others have said heat will help.
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Toby

here's a bit of a tutorial

starts half way down the page

http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=132776&page=3

all the best.markj
Toby - 17 Aug 2009 22:16 GMT
> here's a bit of a tutorial
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> all the best.markj- Hide quoted text -

Hi Mark

that's a really useful link and idea, thanks.

cheers

Toby
Steve R. - 18 Aug 2009 07:21 GMT
>> here's a bit of a tutorial
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Toby

Seems like a lot of work! Why not cut the nut with an oxy acetylene, or oxy
propane cutting torch? That's how I deal with that sort of thing. Replace
the nut with a new one.

Steve R.
rsss - 18 Aug 2009 21:29 GMT
Toby Wrote:
> Hi all
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Toby

I seem to remember that one car website suggested that Coke (the drink
in original formula actually works on engine and manifold studs whe
rusted in. Soak the offending part in Coke overnight!

Ian Matthews recently undid a rusted nut for me by spraying it with
german product (Rust-off in German) which is a freezing spray, th
change in temperature breaking up the rust (like heat only negative).

Robi

--
rss
Colin Reed - 20 Aug 2009 09:56 GMT
> Ian Matthews recently undid a rusted nut for me by spraying it with a
> german product (Rust-off in German) which is a freezing spray, the
> change in temperature breaking up the rust (like heat only negative).

I think I've come across that one before - Rostoff Ice?

Halfords do a similar product called "Shock and Unlock" for about £4 a
can.

Colin
 
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