Seized nut.

[ianashdown]

Hi,

I am working to dismantle my 83 March Supervee that sat in an open barn for 20+years, but have come to removing the bolt and nut that attaches the lower link to the rear upright. The bolt threads are rusted and I cannot move the nut at all. I can rotate the nut and bolt together, but the nut seems to be well stuck to the bolt. I've applied penetrating fluid over a period of two weeks, but still it will not move. I even broke my favorite Mac breaker bar!

My next step is to apply some heat with a propane torch, but I'm a little concerned about putting too much heat to the Magnesium (I think) upright. Part of my concern is the heat treatment and the other is a magnesium fire.

Has anyone any feeling about how much heat is safe and yet still might have a chance to free this reluctant nut?

Thanks,

Ian

[Rick Kirchner]

I take it you can't get to the nut with a cracker because of the A-arm?

I wouldn't be too worried about a mag fire. It will suck the heat away from the bolt so fast you won't be able to light it off. Not sure about making it soft though.

Propane isn't going to cut it though. If you have to use a handyman torch, save yourself a lot of aggrevation and use Mapp gas. You should be able to get the nut red hot which should go a long way to loosening it up. Try cooling it off with non-flammable lubricant. after a couple of cycles it my finally let go.

Can you get between the upright and everything else with a hacksaw and saw the bolt in half?

another thought - center punch the bolt and drill it progressively larger until you can snap the nut off

[ianashdown]

Thanks for the suggestions.

You are correct, I can't get on it with a nut splitter or even a hacksaw. The bolt is a 1/2" socket head cap screw so drilling it out is not really an option either. There is a possibility that I could drill a series of hole into one of the flats of the nut. If I then increase the size of the hole I may be able to split the nut.

I used the term propane generically, it is in fact a MAP gas torch.

I' ve seen Mag fires up close and I'm not anxious to repeat the experience in my garage!!

Off to Fontana in the morning to check out the fun and games . . .

Ian

[thomschoon]

Try soaking it in PB Blaster over night and then see if it breaks free as it will dissolve the rust. I have had to drill the head off of the bolt before, kind of a pain on a 1/2 but it works, just drill down through the head and then knock it out with a punch.

[veefan]

Thom, is right PB Blaster is magic! 100% better than penetrating fluid. Another option is to go the our way... Freeze it, a can of "dust off" upside down, or Loctite® Freeze & Release. Not too many stores carry it, but it works,

http://loctitefreezeandrelease.com/

[Charlie Schmidt]

can you get a cutoff wheel in there? just use a 3" wheel on a die grinder and either remove one side of the nut, or split it

[wayno]

PB Blaster can't hold a candle to a 50/50 mixture of ATF and Acetone. Try it....Amazing!

[S Lathrop]

If heat doen't fix the problem, drill the dolt to a point below the nut. You should be able to drill 1/16 in under the diameter of the bolt. Then you can just snap the end of the bolt off.

[Bruce]

You might try an old trick used by an old time mechanic. Try melting wax on the nut and let it penetrate.