heating the bolt

Hi,

I have a stupid bolt on the steering gearbox and it won't go using nice methods, so I need to get nasty on this one. I though about heating it with the propane torch, but I have two questions: isn't the tank to close to go around heating bolts right below it? for how long should I heat this bolt?

10 secs? 1 min? 2 hours?

thanks Ant

Reply to
Ant
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...firstly, if you are worried about the tank....remove it. =-) Seriously...it shouldn't be a problem unless it leaks. But if you are worried... Besides removing the tank will gove you more room to work. Now about your bolt... The concept of heating is that hot metal expands. Thus, if it is a "bolt" you wish to free you should heat the casting that is crews into next to the bolt for best results. Thus you will exp-and the metakl loosening its hold on the bolt. If this is not feasible, "some" gaain can be made doing it backwards in that you will disturb somewhat the clutches of rust with the expansion and contraction process of heating and cooling. Parafin wax can work wonders if you can access the thread sie at all...once the object is hot it will "wick" into the threads. A sharb blow or two on the bolt head once hot will also help jar it free of rust depoisits. As for how long.....well that depens entirely on your torch....until it is good and hot...however that takes. =-)

...Gareth

Reply to
Gary Tateosian

Thanks Gareth, I ment "nut" instead of "bolt".

Gary Tateosian wrote in this friggin' newsgroup:

Reply to
Ant

This must be on a Super Beetle. The nut holds the Pitman arm (drop arm) onto the output shaft.

That nut may be peened into the shaft to prevent loosening. Unless the shaft threads are very badly rusted, heating should not be necessary. If you do heat it, my guess would be ~30 seconds. Too much heat may destroy the oil seal.

Keep a garden hose nearby to put out fires and do NOT use the torch inside the garage (ask me how I know this...)

Speedy Jim

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Reply to
Speedy Jim

Reply to
ilambert

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 09:30:09 -0400, Speedy Jim ran around screaming and yelling:

ahem...is there something you need to share with us Jim? JT

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

LOL! I had a Ghia body in the garage, sitting on sawhorses. I think it was a hood hinge needed to be welded back on. Bzzzzzzzzt. Done in no time.

I went off to another part of the garage to do something when I saw a reflection of flames in the side-view mirror of another car. It took my mind a bit to realize the Ghia was actually on fire!! The brief welding had ignited rust proofing material and the fire was quite persistent.

The garden hose put it out but I don't want to come that close to burning the place down again!!

------------------------------------------------ This is a good time to tell this one: Happened to someone else. He was working on the trunk area (inside) of some Detroit Iron. Needed lots of light to do whatever it was, so he rigged up a couple of those Halogen work lights on stands.

He was engrossed in the work inside the trunk when the whole thing erupted in a ball of orange flames! The Halogen lights had heated the materials covering the trunk to ignition temp. (Sadly, he was badly burned...)

Speedy Jim

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Reply to
Speedy Jim

Do not use the water hose to put out an oil fire though.

Reply to
speedbuggy

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 21:06:25 -0400, Speedy Jim ran around screaming and yelling:

LOL Jim...*who* hasn't done that, YET?

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 01:13:24 GMT, "speedbuggy" ran around screaming and yelling:

or a substantial gasoline fire either.... JT

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

Yeah, I remember that day I was working on a Ghia and then turned my back and saw a fire out of the corner of my eye. No... wait... I'm thinking of the day I drove partially into a stream in my Jeep and then walked away to take pictures of it, then it caught on fire IN MY FACE seconds after I started it back up again. Now *who* hasn't done THAT yet? GROUP HUG! :)

"I can hammer it back into shape later." :wq!

Reply to
Shaggie

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 21:33:08 -0400, Shaggie ran around screaming and yelling:

well so far i've never torched my vehicle enough to leave me stranded enough to have to rely on a honda to get back and forth to work....

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

Sorry you can't afford a reliable vehicle, you back-woods dipshit. I'm about tired of your crap anyway. When I'm finished with my Honda I'll sell it to you and be sure to rip the radiator out of it first so you'll at least think you have a clue of how to deal with it. GLAD I COULD HELP!!!

"I can hammer it back into shape later." :wq!

Reply to
Shaggie

On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 21:43:33 -0400, Shaggie ran around screaming and yelling:

*I* could buy your sorry ass in a heartbeat...your envy is very visible...maybe you should lay off that "recipe" that keeps you saying ignorant shit on this group...

WHOPITYDO......build yourself a bridge to get over it...or maybe you can buy one, mr. high and mighty...

shit no i don't want one of your former vehicles...there are enough horror stories of PO's on this board...do you really want me to expose all of your shortcomings when it comes to your "mechanical"work? JT

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

You are somewhat right Joey(..*8-}..) Back in "the old days" when I was in Naval reserve boot camp, we spent many hours putting out oil fires. All we used was water. Its not using water that is bad, but how you use it. They demonstrated this by having us hit a Big Open Tank fire with a direct heavy stream of water, and of course the fire went sky high. Then they taught us how to do it right. Instead of the direct stream of water, you use the "Fan" spray. By moving this more tame spray around the tank, you would cut of the O2 to the fire and extinguish it. Basically what a fire extinguisher does with chemicals. It is pretty impressive to see a fire with 100 foot flames in an oil tank being put out with water only. And boy the heat......damnation Even more fun inside a building....*8-}

-- the Grokdoc Tom Malmevik all that groks is god

67 Baja "marti"
Reply to
Thomas Malmevik

Sure, right after you expose all of your own shortcomings. Why not start out by explaining how simply changing the oil on your motorcycle left you with a crankcase (and cylinders) full of gas that you shot out of the spark-plug holes and exhaust pipe several feet when you hit the starter with that cigarette hanging out of your mouth, Mr Goodwrench? hahahaha!!! Now go play in traffic. :-D

"I can hammer it back into shape later." :wq!

Reply to
Shaggie

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 18:16:58 -0400, Shaggie ran around screaming and yelling:

no problem "dude"...i don't try to act *PERFECT* and have no problem admitting when i make a "whoopsie"....when refitting the fairings on my motorcycle i apparently moved the position of my fuel tap to halfway between on and prime...(suzuki uses a vacuum operated fuel tap that shuts the fuel off when the engine is not running...except in the "PRIME" setting)....as far as the other, removing sparkplugs and turning the engine over is standard procedure for clearing out a "hydrolocked" engine...maybe you should bone up on those "mechanicin'" skills? Now the cigarette in the mouth while doing said procedure is optional.......see the difference between my shortcomings and yours is, that i only put myself in jeopardy, while you put everyone in traffic around you in danger....

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how long does it take to figure out the firing order on a vw?
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don't even get me started on what kind of moron it takes to ride around in a vehicle that requires 5 quarts of oil *FOUR* quarts low...then wondering "what is that sound?"

JT(a.k.a "Mr. Goodwrench")

Reply to
Joey Tribiani

A few weeks back, we went to a friends farm He has a PTO powered waterblaster on his farm tractor. We drained all the water out of the tank and filled it with diesel. We then attached a metal rod to the waterbaster wand and put a diesel soaked rag on it. After igniting the rag, you pull the trigger on the water blaster :-)

We were about 25 metres away and we felt the heat - it was so bright we couldn't look at it! Sometimes after a small stint on the trigger, we have to go and roll in the wet grass to cool down the overalls! Hehehehe... lots of fun!

(PS, don't try this at home... unless you really want to... and only use diesel - Petrol *WILL* kill you and you tractor)

Allan :-)

Reply to
Allan Williams

.................Jesus, Mary & Joseph...........I didn't know about that one !!! And he was trying to blame the PO for his 'misadventures'.

LOL

Reply to
Tim Rogers

Exactly my point, Allan. It is the Stream that burns not the Fan. Never tried the stunt you did.....yet.....*8-}

-- the Grokdoc Tom Malmevik all that groks is god

67 Baja "marti"
Reply to
Thomas Malmevik

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