Stuck wheel bolts.

[richyb]

Recently bought a flatbed trailer. Been giving it a bit of a service and all 5 of the bolts on one wheel are absolutely stuck. Fairly rusted looking but still intact/good head.

I've tried my 1/2" air impact gun. No luck.
I tried some penetrative oil, left for a few hours then impact gun. Childish giggle but no luck.
I've tried a 600mm breaker bar 1/2" breaker bar. No luck.
I put a scaffolding bar on the breaker bar. Snapped the socket!

I've run out of DIY options but have two other options. 1) A neighbouring unit has a 3/4" heavy weight impact gun but no 19mm socket. I could buy a socket but I am a bit concerned that with a bigger impact gun the likelihood of snapping the bolt head off. 2) Buy a little blow lamp and try to heat and rapidly cool the bolts. Hopefully 'crack' the rust or get it moving.

Any suggestions?

[V8forweekends]

You could try Loctite Freeze N release - I had some good results with it where WD40 didn't help (I now know that WD40 isn't really for that sort of stuff so bought some plus gas as well.

[steveo3002]

not left hand thread are they?

[Efbe]

heat?

[richyb]

I'll have a look. One of the problems is it being a stuck bolt rather than nut. If it were a nut I could get at the thread more. As a bolt and a wheel in the way I can't really get any oil etc in.

[mat13]

What make of trailer is it? If it uses indespension type suspension units it might be easier to just grind the heads off of the wheel nuts and replace the entire unit, cant remember how much they are exactly but there not ridiculously expensive.

[skyrover]

deflate the tyre and then use heat

[SV8Predator]

Easy solution this time! Find someone who has one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5834-Heat-Inductor/d...

It will take about 30 seconds to solve your problem.

[richyb]

Ifor Williams. I think its a few hundred for the hub etc.

[richyb]

SV8Predator said:

Easy solution this time! Find someone who has one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5834-Heat-Inductor/d...

It will take about 30 seconds to solve your problem.

£600!

[Efbe]

richyb said:

SV8Predator said:

Easy solution this time! Find someone who has one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-5834-Heat-Inductor/d...

It will take about 30 seconds to solve your problem.

£600!

or a decent blowtorch

[Nick Grant]

I had this problem earlier in the year with my locking nuts. Had to get some bar welded to the nuts to get them off

[MajorProblem]

You want a MAPP gas torch if using a hand torch, if not oxy acetylene.

[Major Fallout]

Heat will be the next thing to try.

If not then drill them out.

[Quinny]

I'd try a hex impact socket and a bloody long bar.....if the heads snap off at least you can get the wheel off and then tackle the remainder whilst it's not under load....

Try spraying some red diesel around the bolts beforehand..... It's an excellent penetrating oil......don't waste time with WD40...

[richyb]

I don't know anyone with an oxy torch unfortunately.

I am thinking my 'cheapest' option is to buy a 3/4" 19mm socket. Might try that first then go down the heat route.

[Quinny]

richyb said:

I don't know anyone with an oxy torch unfortunately.

I am thinking my 'cheapest' option is to buy a 3/4" 19mm socket. Might try that first then go down the heat route.

Just make sure it's an "impact" socket....

[richyb]

Quinny said:

Just make sure it's an "impact" socket....

The last one was supposedly. Might have been a cheapie and it was a 2 metre scaffold bar.

[skyrover]

richyb said:

I don't know anyone with an oxy torch unfortunately.

I am thinking my 'cheapest' option is to buy a 3/4" 19mm socket. Might try that first then go down the heat route.

make sure you deflate the tyre before heating the rim

[Mave]

steveo3002 said:

not left hand thread are they?

That was my thought. I remember trying to get a wheel off a transit on a kayaking trip. 12 lads jumping in the back with the brace jammed against a rock inadvertently tightening it up... Finally called out Mr AA, he was too busy swearing to notice the look of realisation on my face ;-)