Removed broken bolts

rrlund · Nov 23, 2016

I broke off all four half inch bolts in the two inch plate that the spindle welds in to on the corn picker. Only one was flush,the other three were recessed a thread or two. I welded a 3/8ths washer to the one that was flush,welded a nut to it,rapped it a few times with the impact and he came loose.

The ones that were recessed were a little tougher. I laid the washer over a hole in the anvil,put a ball peened hammer in it and hammered them in to a dish. I laid them over the holes,very carefully got the welding rod straight down in the hole,then just let it burn and pile straight up to the washer and made a swirl in the washer to finish them off. Being dished,they stuck up above the plate enough to get ahold of them with a pair of curved jaw vise grips. I tapped the vice grips with a hammer for about half a turn then turned them on out. One came on the first attempt. The other two,the washer broke off and I had to try again,but I got all four of the buggers out of there with no drilling.

PJH · Nov 23, 2016

Did they break because of the heavy mud?

I remember when everyone in the neighborhood used barge wagons. One fall it was super muddy, and the front wheels would bust off at the lug bolts - always loaded and turning on a downhill in the mud. I'll bet I welded heavy washers on a dozen wheels that year. Sometimes welded the wheel to the hub, if the ears broke on the hub. The running gears were too light for the load they wanted to put on them.

rrlund · Nov 23, 2016

Quite possibly. I've been picking in the mud all year. I got in a soft spot,started turning out off the row and BANG,down in the mud she went.

Ragnarok · Nov 23, 2016

Air-hammer and heat before you snap the heads off the bolts(or after if they stick out far enough)...welding nuts on works fairly well too as it heats up the bolt remnants and gives you something to bite on

JMS/.MN · Nov 23, 2016

Ever apply candle wax after you heat/weld, apply as it cools? Wax flows between the threads, lubes it to turn out easily. Has never failed me. Even removed spark plugs on the 4500 Ford backhoe...couldn"t reach in with the torch, just used engine heat to warm things...3 times. turned out ok. I know I would have stripped them otherwise.

rrlund · Nov 24, 2016

The bolts sheared off in the field. It's best to weld a washer to what's left of the bolt and a nut to the washer. Gives more surface area to weld to.

rrlund · Nov 24, 2016

I might have been the first one to give the wax advice on here. My son told me about it 16 years ago when he came home from auto/diesel college. I don't think it would have worked in this case. No way to get it down under the washers. It most likely would have run off instead of under them.

He told me about it when I was trying to get a pipe plug out of a housing on a tractor. It was one of those with a square hole in it that you put a half inch ratchet or beaker bar in to. I had rounded it right out,was about to use the drill. He told me to just start heating it,he'd run in the house and get a candle. I stuck the candle on it,took a chisel and hit it with a hammer on the edge of the threads and it spun right around. I put a glove on,stuck my thumb in it and turned it right out.

More than one way to skin a cat.

rrlund · Nov 24, 2016

Here's what I was working with.

tomstractorsandtoys · Nov 30, 2016

Thanks for the post. Never thought about the washer idea before but will keep it in mind for future. Tom

Removed broken bolts

rrlund

Well-known Member

PJH

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Ragnarok

Member

JMS/.MN

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

tomstractorsandtoys

Well-known Member

Similar threads