Removing Head Bolts

[LabadieBill]

This may not qualify as a "Tip of the Week", but it sure made my day. I am working on a 1957 Cub that sat out in the elements for 20 years before I purchased it and it is one rust bucket. When removing the head, all of the head bolts except two came right out. Those two were rusted real bad and a 9/16" socket just spun on them. I tried everything I could think of and was ready to get out the grinder when I decided to try some metric sockets. A 14mm socket fit the rusted bolt perfectly and both bolts came out with no problem. I have a set of Bolt Outs that worked well on some smaller bolts, but I don't have one that will go over a 9/16" bolt head. I'll try to find some more sizes of Bolt Outs for the future.

[beaconlight]

My understanding always was that 14 mm and 9/16 are the same size. I guess there is a minute difference or your 9/16 sockets are stretched. Going to have to pull out the book on this one. I have always used 14mm or 9/16 interchangable.
Bill

[BIGHOSS]

9/16 or .5625 inches equals 14.2875 mm or
14mm equals .5512 inches.

Close.

[beaconlight]

Yep thems the numbers. I guess the tolerance in bolt manufacture and wrench manufacture is such it fit so why bother to look it up.
Bill

[CTdave]

Also, if someone were having trouble, a six point socket works better than the 12's.

[FuryIII]

Also, if someone were having trouble, a six point socket works better than the 12's.

and snap-on makes a socket that grabs the flat sides of a bolt/nut. they work really well when the corners are rounded.

[Dan England]

Fury: Do you have a picture of the Snap-on unit? Dan

[BIGHOSS]

I posted this a few weeks ago on another topic. I had trouble removing manifold bolts on another tractor. Both 9/16 and 14 mm slipped. I bought the "Bolt Out" set on sale from Sears for $9.99. I used the next to biggest one and a boxed end wrench and the bolt came right out. I strongly recommend the bolt out set.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

you can also buy a boltout type set form autozone, and probably oreillys

[Buzzard Wing]

I happened to be at Sears when they were having a sale on bolt-outs and got a big set for $20. I don't get to that store very often and it was a 45$ set! Somehow the wooden handle on my fathers hammer broke and I was getting a new one.

My friend (a mechanic) says the snap on sockets are great.... If you are going to use other stuff 8 sided is always better for taking stuff off.

[BILL PASTOR]

AS A FORMER HEAVY TRUCK & EQUIPMENT MECHANIC--- A TRICK WE USED OFTEN WAS TO USE THE CLOSEST SIZE METRIC 6 POINT SOCKET ON BOLTS THAT HAVE BEEN AFECTED BY SHRINKAGE FROM HEAT [ EXHAUST MANIFOLD ETC]& USE THE CLOSEST SIZE AMERICAN ON SLIPPING METRIC BOLTS . ALSO IF A BOLT IS BEING STUBBORN -A RAP WITH A HAMMER DOES WONDERS - JUST WACK THE HEAD STRAIGHT ON , IF ACCESS IS AN ISSUE-USE A LARGE DRIFT & GIVE A COUPLE RAPS--

[BILL PASTOR]

ALSO MEANT TO SAY THAT RAPPING THE BOLT LOOSENS ANY RUST & BUILD UP AROUND THE SHANK OF THE BOLT AS A LOT OF HEAD BOLTS ARE CLOSING OFF WATER PASSAGES & OIL GALLEYS. WE WORKED ON A LOT OF OLDER FORKLIFTS WITH CONTINENTAL FLAT HEAD ENGINES . ALWAYS COATED THE HEAD BOLTS WITH NEVERSIEZE AT REASSEMBLY--BILL

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My friend (a mechanic) says the snap on sockets are great.... If you are going to use other stuff 8 sided is always better for taking stuff off.

Did you by chance mean 6 sided, 8 sided would only fit the square nuts, not the hex nuts used on most applications.

[Buzzard Wing]

Yeah EJP .... guess 'still plays with tractors' applies to me... not a mechanic.

By the way, are the head bolts special??

[Rudi]

Yeah EJP .... guess 'still plays with tractors' applies to me... not a mechanic.

By the way, are the head bolts special??

Larry:

Don't worry about it.. been there, done that, felt foolish too.. it is ok.. we are allowed

I got a new set of Bolt Outs from Sears on Monday... they are the ones that mount up in your drill

Now I have another tool in me arsenal... I likes it..