[TowerTalk] heavily rusted anchor bolt/nut

[Al Kozakiewicz]

Enough heat will surely separate rusted together fasteners.  My worry would be that heating to the cherry-red stage (what I've observed is usually necessary in an automotive context) negates any hardening acheived in the initial heat treatment of the anchor bolt.  I'm assuming that anchor bolts are hardened and that you do not want to compromise their strength by undoing that.

Sticking to the mechanical methods of removing the bolt would seem to be the safe course.  Use an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel to cut a deep groove in the side of the nut.  Stick a cold chisel in the groove and bang the hell out of it.  The nut will eventually crack at the cut and the chisel will expand it enough to break the corrosion bond.

Al
AB2ZY

________________________________________
From: TowerTalk [towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of n0tt1 at juno.com [n0tt1 at juno.com]
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 10:50 AM
To: kr2q at optimum.net; TowerTalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] heavily rusted anchor bolt/nut

A auto junk yard guy once told me that rusted-on
nuts can be removed by heating the nut with a
torch.  I would think a MAPP gas torch would work
for that.

Or...

Use a nut-cracker.  If none is available in the size you
need, then a series of small holes could be drilled in
one or two *sides* of the nuts, then use a chisel to
finish cracking the nut into pieces.  Those nut-cracking
techniques can also be used together...first the drilling
and then apply a nut cracking tool.

73,
Charlie, N0TT

On Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:56:27 +0000 (GMT) kr2q at optimum.net writes:
> 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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