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Old 09-03-2018, 14:20   #1
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Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Hi,

How do I loosen this old rusty bolt. It's in a location that is difficult to get to and it doesn't move. Is there a clever trick or do I need to grind it off?

Greetings from Denmark,
Sune
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Old 10-03-2018, 01:59   #2
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Soak it with wd40 for a while and then try an impact wrench.
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Old 10-03-2018, 02:34   #3
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

I would not waste time in trying to undo it. A nut splitter would be my first option if there is room alternatively a dremmal type tool and a bit of patience.
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Old 10-03-2018, 02:51   #4
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Hej, Sune!

What are the bolts and what is their function?

When was your Bandholm 24 built?

1971-1974?

So the plate (a chainplate for a shroud?) and the bolts and nuts have been in place for 40 years?

What sort of bolt are you talking about? Can you access its head? What sort of head: a domed head (a carriage bolt); a hexagonal head? Or is the head of the bolt embedded resin?

mvh
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Old 10-03-2018, 03:52   #5
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Thanks for your replies,

Alan, in the sales contract it says she was built in 68-69 but I'm not sure that's correct, if they actually started building the Bandholm 24 that early. My guess is 70 or 71. Old :-)

Yes the bolts are for the chainplates for shrouds and attached through the bulkhead separating cabin and v-berth.
I can access the hex head on the other side although it's cramped. All except one seems in good condition but I would like to replace them all.
The heads are not in resin but they are tight, I can't turn them with a small wrench.

A small leak must have caused the corrosion so I wanna re-bed the chainplates.

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Old 10-03-2018, 04:33   #6
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

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Originally Posted by sune View Post
Yes the bolts are for the chainplates for shrouds and attached through the bulkhead separating cabin and v-berth.
I can access the hex head on the other side although it's cramped. All except one seems in good condition but I would like to replace them all.
The heads are not in resin but they are tight, I can't turn them with a small wrench.
You have the usual options:

1. try to turn the nut, after:

a. applying a penetrating oil (commercial products such as WD40, or make up your own mixture of diesel fuel and automatic transmission fluid); or

b. alternating hot and cold (you probably cannot put a torch flame to those nuts, but you might be able to use cold).

2. remove the nuts, as suggested by Soton, with a nut splitter. You have several nuts over which to spread the price of a nut splitter. And a nut splitter does not require a lot of space - and you don't have a lot of space.

You can review some of those options at website such as:

https://makezine.com/2016/11/21/how-...ts-and-screws/

And you should find the Danske name for nut splitter (I could not!) at websites such as:

https://eshop.wuerth.dk/Product-cate...terialType%22]
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Old 10-03-2018, 04:42   #7
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

It’s possible that the rust is the result of years of condensation in a closed space but the cause is really neither here nor there as you want to replace them anyway.

Another penetrating concoction to try is “weasel piss” or a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone.

After that I might just try wrenching them until the bolt breaks. That works well on stainless bolts 5/16 and under. If no luck with that split the nut.
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Old 10-03-2018, 05:05   #8
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

I'm not sure if you could do this in this case but if it is an incompressible joint (steel / steel) we would tighten the nut and shear the bolt. This will work even with quite large bolts with a big spanner and bar. Trying to undo them could limit your options by rounding off the nuts.
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Old 10-03-2018, 05:22   #9
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

My brother turned me onto a product called Kroil. He works with machinery in the city, concrete pumps and whatnot, and was introduced to it by someone. A little pricey compared to the standby's of WD40/PB Blaster, but he says it's unbelievable in how effective just a couple drops are. I have some on my shelf now in the "hey, just in case nothing else works" pile.
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Old 10-03-2018, 06:21   #10
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

I recently had the same problem, with half-inch chainplate bolts. There were two nuts that I could not turn. I cut them off with an angle grinder using a thin metal-cutting disc. Thirty seconds each. I would have tried a nut splitter if I had one.
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Old 10-03-2018, 08:53   #11
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

I would somewhat agree with Soton although I doubt there is room to get the anvil of a nut splitter around it. Any chance you have room to get an angle grinder in there. It wound make quick work of it compared to a Dremmel type tool.
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Old 10-03-2018, 08:58   #12
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

We've been using Aero Kroil for years. It beats WD40, PB Blaster, you name it. It may seem expensive, but you use so little, it's actually pretty cost effective. Good luck!

Penetrating-Lubricating Oils
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Old 10-03-2018, 09:04   #13
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

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Originally Posted by redhead View Post
We've been using Aero Kroil for years. It beats WD40, PB Blaster, you name it. It may seem expensive, but you use so little, it's actually pretty cost effective. Good luck!

Penetrating-Lubricating Oils

Another recommendation for Kroil. If you can't get it use PB Blaster. WD40 is only marginally useful.
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Old 10-03-2018, 09:17   #14
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Quote:
Originally Posted by sune View Post
Hi,

How do I loosen this old rusty bolt. It's in a location that is difficult to get to and it doesn't move. Is there a clever trick or do I need to grind it off?

Greetings from Denmark,
Sune
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If you have access to both sides, I would use a zip cut and cut the bolts and nut at 00 degrees. In other words try and do a cut for a screw driver. cut until the nut is notched and try and separate. When the nut comes off use a screw driver to hit the bolt back so you can remove it or cut it on the other side of the chain plate... my two cents
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Old 10-03-2018, 10:40   #15
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Re: Crusty rusty bolts and nuts

Pblaster can be found in stores; Kroil has to be mail ordered. Either one should do it. WD-40 will just displace water and keep the rust dry, as it was intended to do.

If that doesn't work, sure, get a nut cracker or Dremel on it.
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