[TowerTalk] heavily rusted anchor bolt/nut

[Adam Shirley WJ4X]

Aero Kroil. Stuff works wonders. If that doesn't work, heating the nut
with a propane torch should help.

All else fails, the Acetylene wrench will remove it.

73!
 -Adam
  WJ4X

On 10/7/2013 6:56 AM, kr2q at optimum.net wrote:
> Hi...
> 
> I am changing out the T-Bar base on my TX472.  
> 
> [You may recall, my old TX472 was bent at the base of the tower during H.Sandy.  The replacement tower has arrived]
> 
> I tried using my wrench to undo the 3 nuts (on 3 anchor bolts), but I wasn't able to budge them.  
> 
> Then I slid a six foot long, 2" OD mast over the end of the wrench and for two of them (barely rusted), they easily turned.
> 
> But one of the anchor bolts (1.125" diameter) the associated nut is heavily rusted, as is the bolt.  Over the weekend, I applied Naval Rust Dissolver Gel which sort of worked.  At least enough to demonstrate that the threads are still in tact.  I also showered it with Liquid Wrench (several times).
> 
> But even with the 6 foot long lever arm and "cautious" pressure, I was not able to budge the nut.  
> 
> I know that when nuts have "frozen" before on much smaller bolts (5/16" or 3/8"), I have been able to (unfortunately) break the bolt instead of loosing the nut while applying "lots" of rotational torque on the nut.  While a 1.125" diameter bolt seems pretty hefty, I am concerned about doing the same (yeah, sounds ridiculous)..and then I"ll really be out of luck.
> 
> Any suggestions on how to proceed?
> 
> Thanks,
> de Doug KR2Q
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