rusted nut / bolt removal

[forester7]

I am new to this site, so forgive me if this topic has been covered in the past. I recently purchased some old farm machinery that is need of some work. As I am sure you all know, this almost always involved ugly rusted nuts and bolts that are often also damaged. I have both a plow and harrow to work on, so I will be running into these. I am just wondering if some of you would share any tricks you have for dealing with these that do not require fancy tools?

I am familiar with cleaning exposed threads with a wire brush. I have a small grinder with cutting disc. I also know heating the nut is supposed to work, but would a propane torch supply enough heat to make this work?

 

[Ellis Kinney]

On a lot of old farm machinery it is the easiest option to cut them off with a grinder and cutting wheel. Especially on old plows, discs etc. A propane
bottle seldom heats the bolt enough to help. If a bolt needs to be removed from a casting heat from a gas welding torch may work the best. Candle wax can be
very useful.. Ellis

 

[dr sportster]

No that torch is not really hot enough .You heat bolts cherry red then let cool overnight and remove the next day.

 

[Mule Meat]

Most bolts on plows and harrows pass completely through the metal parts and held in place by the nut. This you should know by now.

A little tool called a nut cracker, splitter, buster can be very useful if the nuts are damaged. They also come in handy when you do not have or want to use heat. And honestly they are safer to use than cutoff wheels.

Nut busters come in a few different sizes and can be found at auto parts and places likes Lowes.

I use them at times with a Dewalt 1/2" impact drier. But a ratchet works fine also.

 

[Dusty MI]

If a bolt does not want to come loose tighten it a little then loosen it. That seems to help break the rust.

 

[MarkB_MI]

No, a regular propane torch (as opposed to oxypropane) won't get hot enough to remove frozen nuts. You need oxyacetylene. Yes, an acetylene torch rig is a big investment, but once you have one you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.

 

[wsmm]

You could try MAPP gas for the heat, if you don't have ox/acetylene

 

[Sprint 6]

I have a Bolt Buster induction heater.
Not cheap, but worth every penny. No gas
to keep up with, just need electricity.

 

[Ted in NE-OH]

I first try an impact wrench, if it breaks off the bolt the problem is solved unless the bolt goes into a blind hole.

 

[forester7]

Those nut splitters look like an interesting rig! I have never seen them before. Does anyone know o fparticular brands that seem to be quite rugged? Reviews on ones I looked at complained that the tool breaks easy.

(quoted from post at 13:04:44 05/07/20) Most bolts on plows and harrows pass completely through the metal parts and held in place by the nut. This you should know by now.

A little tool called a nut cracker, splitter, buster can be very useful if the nuts are damaged. They also come in handy when you do not have or want to use heat. And honestly they are safer to use than cutoff wheels.

Nut busters come in a few different sizes and can be found at auto parts and places likes Lowes.

I use them at times with a Dewalt 1/2" impact drier. But a ratchet works fine also.

 

[Joe W.]

I have rebuilt several running gears, most were rusty. I always just cut the nut off with my angle grinder then use a bolt of the same or slightly smaller size as a punch and pound the rusted bolt out of its hole. That technique always worked for me.

 

[C.Amick]

These work sometimes. Might also find some Kroil or get P.B. Blaster if you can't.
Broken Nut Extractor

 

[BobReeves]

Nothing beats a cutting torch for old rusted bolts and nuts. You can rent your bottles to start with and buy a pretty good torch kit for around $100.00.

 

[glennster]

instead of oxy acetylene, you can use oxy propane set up. same torch kit, most farm stores sell them, use a gas bbq grille tank, and get the oxygen
bottle. rural king has welding gas.

 

[rustyfarmall]

If you do not own an oxy-acetylene torch, now is the time to go out and buy one. It will quickly become your best friend.