Author Topic: Seized wheel nuts...  (Read 5037 times)

Offline MagnoliaBus

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
Seized wheel nuts...
« on: May 12, 2019, 02:25:33 PM »
This week-end i tried to remove a front wheel....
Cleaned the exposed thread with a wire brush wheel on a small grinder. Then put some loose-nut.
With a CP7448 gun rated @  922 lbs of torque, nothing !
Tried a 3/4 breaker bar (Dewalt) with a 20 ton bottle jack... no more braker bar....

Any idea ???
Denis, North of Montreal, 1989 Prevost XL40, 8V92TA HT740

Offline Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM

  • Publisher - BCM
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1959
    • Bus Conversion Magazine
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2019, 02:48:27 PM »
Lug nuts can get very rusted on especially if you live up north where they use salt shakers on the roads.

You may have to use a Smoke Wrench to heat them up cherry red to break the rust to loosen them.

Or try using Kroil. Spray it on and leave it overnight and you may have success doing that.

Also, be sure you are turning the nuts in the correct direction. On some buses, on one of the sides of the bus there may be left-hand threads.  Some have an "L" on the end of the stud, but you can usually tell by looking at the threads.

Good Luck.

Gary
1967 Eagle with Series 60 Power Plant
Gary@BusConversionMagazine.com

Offline buswarrior

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6564
  • the old one: '75 MC8 with an 8V71 HT740
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2019, 04:15:58 PM »
Good breaker bar the kind that slides on a solid rod, not the ones with the head on a pin, a 6 foot or longer one inch pipe that fits over the breaker bar.

Get a cast coupler to put on threaded end of the pipe to prevent distortion.

Keep leaning on it, they will go off like gunshots when they break free.

My kids got ours free the first time, out at 8 feet or so. It's all about leverage.

Overtorqued and left for a long time makes trouble.

You are on the right track with cleaning threads and putting the penetrating oil to them.

The torch is a last resort, and really needs to be considered destructive, with new fasteners on the agenda.

Look online for help in identifying if your studs have been damaged by overtorquing. A magnifying glass is helpful for tired eyes to see the threads closely.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Frozen North, Greater Toronto Area
new project: 1995 MCI 102D3, Cat 3176b, Eaton Autoshift

Offline MagnoliaBus

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2019, 04:59:38 PM »
Good breaker bar the kind that slides on a solid rod, not the ones with the head on a pin, a 6 foot or longer one inch pipe that fits over the breaker bar.
Exactly, the bolt sheared in the threads portion.
Denis, North of Montreal, 1989 Prevost XL40, 8V92TA HT740

Offline Raymond smith

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 103
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2019, 06:05:36 PM »
Would they be left hand thread if you were doing the left front wheel. Just a thought. Raymond
1957 4104-3632 & 1989 mci 102c3

If it doesn`t fit properly the first time, Get a bigger hammer

Offline MagnoliaBus

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2019, 06:08:26 PM »
Would they be left hand thread if you were doing the left front wheel. Just a thought. Raymond
Yes they are left & right thread on left & right side.
Denis, North of Montreal, 1989 Prevost XL40, 8V92TA HT740

Offline luvrbus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26049
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2019, 06:33:02 PM »
Buy a cheap torque multiplier 50 bucks on Amazon
Life is short drink the good wine first

Offline Ed Hackenbruch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2984
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2019, 12:01:10 PM »
I would take a very close look at the lug nuts, the studs and the back of the wheels once i got them off.  I had to use a X-12 torque multiplier to get mi ne off and found that two of my steel wheels were cracked on the back side under the paint. New wheels, studs and nuts and nobody ever touched my wheels again but me. 
Used to own a 1968 MCI 5A and a 1977 5C.

Offline MagnoliaBus

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2019, 05:37:24 PM »
While i'm at it, i might as well do some test.
So, i will try two things.
First, i will buy a cheap nut breaker on amazon like Cliffod said (the good thing is that it go deep for the dual).
Second, i have access to a 4X torque multiplier (Williams @ 2000 pounds, 1 inch drive output). For this one, i will need an extension for the dual and some kind of resting stand.
Denis, North of Montreal, 1989 Prevost XL40, 8V92TA HT740

Offline bevans6

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6205
  • 1980 MCI MC-5C
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2019, 05:41:26 AM »
The first time I took the driver's side wheels off my bus (left hand thread) I broke the 3/4" drive right off the torque multipler...  It took a Snap-On 1500 ft lb impact driver with a 1/2" air hose and my compressor turned up to 150 psi. 
And all new budd nuts, lug nuts all round.
1980 MCI MC-5C, 8V-71T from a M-110 self propelled howitzer
Allison MT-647
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

Offline Fred Mc

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 842
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2019, 03:54:01 PM »
Just to be sure if the stud is stamped L you turn it counterclockwise to loosen it.

Offline chessie4905

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7101
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2019, 03:58:25 PM »
You turn it clockwise to loosen. Bass akwards from normal loosenig of a nut on a bolt. And on the R side or no mark, you turn it counterclockwise to loosen. Also, don't mix up the nuts from one side with the other, although they should have L marks on them like the studs.
GMC h8h 649#028 (4905)
Pennsylvania-central

Offline Van

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3254
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2019, 06:39:24 PM »
Just to be sure if the stud is stamped L you turn it counterclockwise to loosen it.

   Uh Oh! :(
B&B CoachWorks
Bus Shop Mafia.

Offline TomC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9255
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2019, 07:51:46 PM »
When you do finally get the wheel off and the studs replaced, be sure to paint on Never Seize. I had the rear tires of my truck replaced after sitting for over 10 years. None of the nuts were a problem. Good Luck, TomC
Tom & Donna Christman. 1985 Kenworth 40ft Super C with garage. '77 AMGeneral 10240B; 8V-71TATAIC V730.

Offline Jim Eh.

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 954
  • Excess in moderation
Re: Seized wheel nuts...
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2019, 09:03:29 PM »
Safety glasses are your best friend.
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Jim Eh.
1996 MC12
6V92TA / HT741D
Winnipeg, MB.

 

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal