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UPDATE IN LAST POST: BOLT STUCK. Suggestions for a torque wrench with at least 320 ft/lb

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/3270059515

June 28, 2025, 08:08 PM
reflex/deflex 64
UPDATE IN LAST POST: BOLT STUCK. Suggestions for a torque wrench with at least 320 ft/lb
A 12 pack of beer and a trip to your average farmer can do it pretty easy 320 ft/lb is actually the numerical expression of farmer tight


----------The weather is here I wish you were beautiful----------
June 28, 2025, 10:12 PM
BB61
So I got the first bolt off and out tonight. The second bolt won’t come out of the shank. The nut is off but no go for getting the bolt to slide out. I’ve tried lifting the head up to relive the pressure and tapping it with a hammer but it won’t budge.

Thoughts?


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June 28, 2025, 10:26 PM
Mustang-PaPa
Whats your location?
June 28, 2025, 10:53 PM
BB61
Utah.


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June 28, 2025, 11:31 PM
hrcjon
I am unclear where this bolt goes from the description.
But if it just goes through something just hit it harder. If you have a decent impact gun it can help to just work a bit on the head of the bolt to see if it will free up. Hitting the head as well as the end is useful. heat can sometime help.
More with a bit of bolt details.


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
June 29, 2025, 12:03 AM
Some Shot
Put the nut back on, a few turns loose, before you beat on the threaded end.

Ask my younger brother how I know that.
June 29, 2025, 12:20 AM
Mustang-PaPa
quote:
Originally posted by BB61:
Utah.


To bad. If you were in Texas I would hook you up.
June 29, 2025, 01:04 AM
Lunasee
Heat and beat. If that doesn't work, torch. It can't be stuck if it's liquid.
June 29, 2025, 03:44 AM
trapper189
Let penetrating oil soak in for a day or two. Bigger hammer and replace the bolt if the threads get damaged or the end of the bolt mushrooms.

Don’t twist the bolt head off, but put a breaker bar on it and try turning the bolt back and forth.
June 29, 2025, 01:07 PM
BB61
Thanks for the new suggestions and offer if I was in Texas.


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June 29, 2025, 05:01 PM
400m
50/50 acetone and transmission fluid? I’ve never used it but it’s supposed to be some good stuff.
June 29, 2025, 05:18 PM
selogic
Why do you need a Torque Wrench for a stuck bolt ? Did I miss something ?
June 29, 2025, 05:28 PM
trapper189
quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
Did I miss something ?

Looks like you missed his first and second posts. His second one is the sixteenth post overall.
June 29, 2025, 05:31 PM
Mars_Attacks
I heat them just before to the point of becoming liquid.

I have never been defeated.


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Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
June 29, 2025, 05:36 PM
OttoSig
Is a bolt stuck or you’re tightening one? I’ve read all the posts but damn if I can differentiate!

When tightening something like a ball on a hitch, it’s all metal, generally, the length of a box wrench will give you enough leverage to tighten it, without over tightening, don’t double wrench it or impact it tight.

Outside of fiberglass flanges and precision fits, a torque wrench seems overkill, and unless you’ve had it checked for accuracy you don’t know if your overnight or understitch anyway.

ETA: Forgive me missing the whole set of posts. Ignore most all of this.





Nine years to retirement! Just waiting!
June 29, 2025, 05:42 PM
OttoSig
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I heat them just before to the point of becoming liquid.

I have never been defeated.


Stuck bolts and fittings, if not sheared off have two answers, heat and cold. We used to fit 12” diameter female shafts into their compression-fit counterparts with 8-10 bags of ice and heat, your only need a couple thousandths to make it slip on, or off.





Nine years to retirement! Just waiting!
June 29, 2025, 06:33 PM
Appliance Brad
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I heat them just before to the point of becoming liquid.

I have never been defeated.


"Can't be tight if their liquid" - Farmer I Verse 13


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Writing the next chapter that I've been looking forward to.
June 29, 2025, 06:43 PM
92fstech
Most of life's problems can be resolved through proper application of force. If it's not threaded into the hole and just straight rusted in there, hit it harder with something bigger until it comes out.

quote:
It can't be stuck if it's liquid.


This is also very true! But a hammer is cheaper than an Oxyacetylene torch.
June 29, 2025, 07:09 PM
BB61
To answer some questions, I have to adjust the height of the ball on my Equalizer hitch as I have a new tow vehicle. This requires me to remove two bolts in the shank that hold the head. The manufacturer requires these bolts to be torqued to 320 FT/LBs. There are two bolts in the shank that hold the head and have to be removed to adjust the height of the head. One bolt came out easily, the second is stuck.


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June 29, 2025, 11:31 PM
onegeek
I go to one of the trailer dealers in town, tell them the drop I need, and they come out with the correct drop and ball already attached and torqued. It costs about $20 more than buying the parts and doing it myself. And I don’t need to buy and store an expensive wrench, nor do I need to Magilla myself into a medical fubar.

I learned that was the easier way after I did the Two Grunts Method on our first hitch. It never budged.

In your case I would go with Two Grunts, but it sounds like your stuff is expensive.