Help - can't get these nuts off

[nakman]

I may have screwed myself here... can't get these 4 12mm nuts to bust free. Well I got one off, but two of them are now pretty rounded, and the other won't move. The belt isn't turning, the pulley just spins inside the belt when I try to move them. Too tight with the fan to put a socket on them, and my open end wrenches have now rounded them off.. what to do?

 

[nuclearlemon]

coat them with pb blaster and get a flare wrench

 

[nakman]

Ok, like this? http://www.autozone.com/selectedZip...l/initialR,NONAPP25580/shopping/selectZip.htm

thanks, off to AutoZone...

 

[MDH33]

I just picked up a 10 - 12 mm flare wrench at sears last week. Worked great on those rounded off brake line nuts. I took a flat file to the nuts to reshape them some first. How I ever managed without that tool before, I don't know.

 

[nakman]

Well I tried the flare wrench, now I have 3 more round nuts. that thing was useless. At least I got one off so I can take that to the store tomorrow, but I'm going to switch to the grinder now.

 

[Romer]

I'd be careful about the grinder Tim. I would hate for you to go to far and mess of the bolts.

A short socket with the (can't remember the name ??) kind of socket wrench with the bend at the end won't fit?

 

[Shark Bait]

Vise grips?

 

[Romer]

what about trying heat to break it free. I had to do that on my 40, err your 40 when I removed the original springs.

 

[nakman]

These things are tight enough to round off in the flare wrench... and I don't think I have a vice grip that will grab that tight anyway. I tried heating one with propane, didn't seem to do anything. Plus I can't get the grinder in there anyway, it smacks into the pulley before the wheel will even hit a nut. So now I'm filing my way through each nut.. damn this sucks.

 

[RockRunner]

Try a larger vise grip, you may have to get a new one that fits they have several sizes and shapes. If that does not work try a Rotozip style tool with a small grinding wheel. If that still does not work and your truck still drives you can come over to my house and we can use the plasma cutter. It may take a nick out of the pulley but I have gotten pretty good with it.

 

[Romer]

If they are still on there enough to stay on without issue. I'd stop and reserach it more before you go to far and can't get use the truck. Maybe Oleg has an idea or you can bring it by the shop and have Yuri get them off.

edit: or over to Tom's house

 

[IanB]

I just got home if you want to bring it over here and try.

 

[nakman]

Ok, got 'em, thanks everyone. the file & vice grip method eventually prevailed.. looks like about 1 hour per nut? yikes...




now what was I working on again?

 

[IanB]

I'm glad everything worked out with your nuts

 

[Rezarf]

Way to keep after it. Nothing like 4 nuts to turn a half hour job into a days work... gotta love cruisers!

Drew

 

[nakman]

Here's an after shot.. got it all bolted back up.

 

[farnhamstj]

Love my metric vice grips. Now if I can just find a metric BFH.

 

[RockRunner]

You mean you did not re-use the old nuts??? You just got them how you wanted them.

 

[nakman]

You mean you did not re-use the old nuts??? You just got them how you wanted them.

LOL!! that reminds me, I took pictures of those buggers once I had them off. sorry for the bad focus, but you get the idea..

 

[Bobzooki]

Well, at least you can SEE them! On my Sidekick, the pulley is dished the other way, and the nuts are down inside the pulley - you have to use a mirror just to see 'em. That's where you earn your money, doing a timing belt on the Kick. The rest is a breeze.

This whole thing reminds me of a song by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show...Get my rocks off...