Could you try a slightly bigger socket on it, and then get a big sledge to give the socket a few big bangs? Might help break any rust that's holding things together. Heat would also be beneficial
Vinegar left on 24-48 hrs, but having it immersed in it would be a problem. Coca-Cola works too. Sounds crazy.
Anyone try this one from screwfix?
https://www.screwfix.ie/p/arctic-hayes-crack-it-shock-release-spray-400ml/83415
Bought one here a few years ago while having a similar issue with an old trailer. It did the job easily.
the impact gun worked well for me. The shock loading of the impact helped but soaking before hand was a good part of it. WD 40 is almost useless. There is a LOWES Rust removal can on sale in the Co Op shops that seems to be good. It's light and penetrative.
Ur small gas torch will get enough heat into in and an impact gun, want a good strong one, it will shift them
You can buy new wheel bolts too. Just cut off the old nuts and tap back the old bolts with a hammer. I haven't done it my self, so can't say how hard or easy it is to do.
Last time I bought a trailer here, I took off all the nuts and put copper grease on the threads.
never thought there might be left and right hand threads. I’ll get back with some heat and try again. I’ll cut some gun barrel and slide it over the studs and sledge to loosen too. cheers
The left side is most likely to be left hand thread
Does copper grease stand up to the weather over time
It's the small flakes of copper that prevent the steel bonding to steel. Nothing worst that shearing off bolts when trying to open them.
Ah ok didn't realise that
And would that be weatherproof ?
I always put copper ease on my cars wheel bolts. Never a problem removing them and you can always see a bit of the copper left grease left on the threads. How could it possibly get out from between the threads?
Mechanic does same
I saw there was some dispute over doing that but i assume it's probably ok
I posted over on the electrical forum about nuts and bolts . It can be a problem with outdoor electrical equipment.
Grease on wheel studs is a problem because the grease causes less friction so you are going to overtighten the nut.
And to answer another question, good quality copper grease will stand up to the harshest of weather no problem. The cheaper stuff is usually shite.
So the cheap €10 tin in Halfords won't hold up to the weather then ?
This stuff is very good, have used before, don't know what the halfords stuff is like.
I wouldn't put any grease on wheel studs though.
LOL if someone had put some on the wheel nuts @_Brian wouldn't be having a problem getting them off.
Grease of any kind leads to less friction when tightening nuts. You tighten to a lower torque because of this.
I always thought copper and iron don't mix well , ? At least in plumbing , 😁
Apparently plenty of heat then rub candle wax on to the thread , and let it wick in , but haven't tried ,
it can be hard to get ones to match the old wheels. Different for tractors etc as they are still in use. The old axles on many trailers came from small lorry's so had to even know where to get them.
Pat Hickey in Mungret, Limerick sorted me out for trailer axle hub bolts in the past.
https://www.pathickey.com/contact-us/
still soaking them twice a day. tried in both directions with long bar and no good.
Heat will be next step.
Find directon of threads first
I just had a look at my trailer here with an old truck axle and you can see 'R' stamped on the end of the bolt. (See pic). This indicating a right hand thread.
I couldn't see an 'L' on the other side of the trailer, but I thought I did in the past. This side does have left handed threaded bolts.
Same here. I failed with the breaker bar.. you lose a lot of power/torque with the extension to get into the nuts. Heat and an impact gun, (pneumatic or electric) is your best option with heat and penetrating oil.
See if you can wire-brush the heads of the studs. Check the studs Patsy shows for a direction marking.. I think you will have left-hand studs on the right-hand side and right-hand studs on the left-hand side looking from the back.. They should tighten against the direction of rotation if the axle was put on like on a truck.
Nut cracker any good as long as you know the thread direction
Ya that's the way it is. If sitting on the tractor, you right hand would be the side with the Left Handed Threads (on the trailer).
You all have too much faith that the axel was put on the right way up 🤣
true,I'd always rub my fingernail on the thread to confirm
What would be a nice material between house and farmyard to block off a gate so that you cant really see into farm from street. It would be mounted onto an existing galvanized yard gate. Timber lats like picket fence, sheets of corrugated tin, sheets of stok board, plastic lats etc. Any pics ?
