Stuck Bolts

[AltheaToldMe]

So, in the included picture, you will see the two bolts holding the motor to the transom. I tried removing these bolts this morning, but they would not budge. I put a 3/4" socket on one of them and used a 1/2" drive ratchet. I could not get them to move at all. Any thoughts or suggestions as to why they are not moving. Any opinions on how to get them loose? I need to get them out to do the transom repair, but it's not looking so good right now.

The nut will come off fine.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Soak them with PB Blaster and wait 15 minutes or so. They should come off.

 

[salty87]

Re: Stuck Bolts

is there weight on them?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Stuck Bolts

is there weight on them?

Even if there was, the weight would be on the bolt, not the nut.

I agree that you should soak them in pb blaster (dont use wd40, pb is so much better) for a while and try again.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Stuck Bolts

I would soak them overnight with the PB and maybe use a breaker bar with a longer handle.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stuck Bolts

read the last line of the post. "The nut will come off fine." the weight of the motor has the bolt wedged in the transom. put some board under the foot of the motor, now raise the bow of the boat a little to take the strain off the bolts. they should turn, then put the nut back on to protect the thread, and give it a couple of good whacks. some prior, may have used 3m 5200 to seal them when installed. that stuff when dry is really tough.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Stuck Bolts

The hot blue wrench or...

Go to autozone, buy the $70 120v impact driver,
you'll wonder how you got by without it.
Let it bang away for 10-15 seconds, it'll get it loose.

My trailer lugnuts were so rusted there was no thread visible,
took em off in no time. I find impact sockets aren't needed, the only sockets I break are with the 24" breaker bar.

 

[Splat]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Those electric impact guns are junk. If you need an impact and don't want to buy a good one with an air compressor, just run the boat up to a local NTB, or tire place, the guys should be more than happy to spend 2 minutes to zip em out for you.

Bill

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Thanks guys, but the blue flame and fiberglass....no thanks.

As for impact guns, I use 1/2" air guns, but I cannot see needing to employ 200+ lb/ft of torque on a fiberglass boat hull.

Methinkst I will use tashasdaddy's idea of finess first I'd be doing it now if not for being on call. The pager went off right after I began to grease up my first new wheel bearing!!

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Since you will want to replace the bolts and nuts with new ones the thing I would do is to just use a hand grinder and cut them off. Just wear safety glasses and perhaps cover the surrounding area AND GAS LINES to protect against the hot sparks. If not I agree with the PB blaster rocking the nut back and forth with a 6 point 1/2 drive impact socket or just hold the other side with a wrech and then tighten till it snaps.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Those electric impact guns are junk. If you need an impact and don't want to buy a good one with an air compressor, just run the boat up to a local NTB, or tire place, the guys should be more than happy to spend 2 minutes to zip em out for you.

Bill

mine works great !
You might have had a bad one, the chinese quality control is , skimpy.
Mine would get those bolts loose without a shred of a doubt.

I also have an air impact but the elec is just soo ez to use, no hoses to drag out, waiting for air pressure etc.

The only one I wish I could afford now is the 18V .

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Back on topic;

So, I?ve been busy with work and stuff, but I wanted to update at least one of my posts to reflect current information.

So far this project (removing the bolts) has been a success. Not without some blood.

I had to employ the following tools in no certain order:

Grinder (both cut-off wheel and grinder)
Selection of hammers.
Brass drifts.
PB Blaster
Motor oil.
MAPP gas torch.
?? drive socket with 2 feet of rigid conduit cheater bar.
24? pry bar
Several drill bits, which are no longer living.
2 x 4 piece of wood for the skeg to ride on while I finessed the power trim to take the weight load off the bolts.

The first bolt I got to spin. After lubricating the hell out of it, I was able to punch it out.

The second bolt the head snapped off. From that point it was a long, hard fought battle (including removing the tilt cylinder which I am happy has no leaks) to get the son-of-a-gun out. Suffice it to say that after employing all of the aforementioned tools, the bolt holes are clear.

The material inside the holes looks to be ok and is dry. I will be packing the holes with a resin/glass cotton mixture to be re-drilled later. I will be glassing the depressions and cracks that were evident behind the old fender washers and marine-texing over that. I will then be employing a 3/8? sheet of solid aluminum to reinforce the transom where the motor attaches. I?ll be using Sikaflex for all the sealing and using stainless steel hardware as opposed to the freaking GALVINIZED crap that I had to fight to get out.

Perhaps in the realm of this same project I will also replace the lower motor bolts as they are rusted to hell.

Where can I source a couple of 5? x ?? stainless steel hex bolts and associated hardware??

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Back on topic;

So, I?ve been busy with work and stuff, but I wanted to update at least one of my posts to reflect current information.

So far this project (removing the bolts) has been a success. Not without some blood.

I had to employ the following tools in no certain order:

Grinder (both cut-off wheel and grinder)
Selection of hammers.
Brass drifts.
PB Blaster
Motor oil.
MAPP gas torch.
?? drive socket with 2 feet of rigid conduit cheater bar.
24? pry bar
Several drill bits, which are no longer living.
2 x 4 piece of wood for the skeg to ride on while I finessed the power trim to take the weight load off the bolts.

The first bolt I got to spin. After lubricating the hell out of it, I was able to punch it out.

The second bolt the head snapped off. From that point it was a long, hard fought battle (including removing the tilt cylinder which I am happy has no leaks) to get the son-of-a-gun out. Suffice it to say that after employing all of the aforementioned tools, the bolt holes are clear.

The material inside the holes looks to be ok and is dry. I will be packing the holes with a resin/glass cotton mixture to be re-drilled later. I will be glassing the depressions and cracks that were evident behind the old fender washers and marine-texing over that. I will then be employing a 3/8? sheet of solid aluminum to reinforce the transom where the motor attaches. I?ll be using Sikaflex for all the sealing and using stainless steel hardware as opposed to the freaking GALVINIZED crap that I had to fight to get out.

Perhaps in the realm of this same project I will also replace the lower motor bolts as they are rusted to hell.

Where can I source a couple of 5? x ?? stainless steel hex bolts and associated hardware??

Any good hardware store should have SS bolts. Put some anti seize on them.

Even with SS, you will still get a reaction from the aluminum as they are dissimilar metals. Using anti seize will help.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stuck Bolts

sounds like they use 3m 5200 on those bolts.

 

[Splat]

Re: Stuck Bolts

mine works great !
You might have had a bad one, the chinese quality control is , skimpy.
Mine would get those bolts loose without a shred of a doubt.

I also have an air impact but the elec is just soo ez to use, no hoses to drag out, waiting for air pressure etc.

The only one I wish I could afford now is the 18V .

Perhaps, I could never find one with enough ooommmph to get some lug nuts off. They are convenient tho, this is true. I hear the Dewalt ones are very descent, but if I remember correctly they are several hundred dollars.


Bill

 

[salty87]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Where can I source a couple of 5? x ?? stainless steel hex bolts and associated hardware??

online, mcmaster carr is awesome

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Stuck Bolts

Perhaps, I could never find one with enough ooommmph to get some lug nuts off. They are convenient tho, this is true. I hear the Dewalt ones are very descent, but if I remember correctly they are several hundred dollars.


Bill

I've got a 24v I picked up from Princess Auto (Canadian store) for $70. Works real well. The only nuts it could not undo were my trailer axle u bolts. Tried 24v impact, 120v impact and air. Ended up using a breaker bar and busted 14 out of 16 off.

My recommendation (too late I know) is to do what TD said. Take the weight off, thread the nut partway and with one guy trying to turn it with a breaker bar, someone else whacks the nut with a hammer. I know when I go to redo my transom, I'll have this issue with the lower bolts as I put a lot of 5200 in there.