The wheelbarrow blues

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Rikkitic

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#312755 14-May-2024 16:11

I need to change a tyre on an old wheelbarrow. The bolts attaching the assembly use the old flathead screw design. When I try to turn the nut, the bolt turns with it instead of coming loose and I can't hold it tight enough with the screwdriver to prevent this. I tried CRC but so far no luck. I will leave it overnight and see if it works tomorrow. In the meantime, other suggestions are welcomed. I need to get the bolt loose without destroying anything.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

nicmair

244 posts

Master Geek

#3230423 14-May-2024 16:21

had a similar issue, ended up having to grind the old bolts off and replace the nuts and bolts and nice new ones, (pretty disappointed really, tire only lasted 30yrs...)

johno1234

2797 posts

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#3230424 14-May-2024 16:22

Hold the bolt from turning with a spanner and hit the screw with an impact screwdriver and hammer ?

SteveXNZ

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#3230427 14-May-2024 16:28

A few thoughts in increasing order of difficulty/cost:

Overnight flooded with penetrating oil
Tap the nut lightly with a hammer
Play a propane torch on the nut for around 15 seconds
Temporarily weld a bar to the screw head for better purchase with a spanner
Drill it out and replace
Buy a new wheel barrow!

shrub

775 posts

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#3230431 14-May-2024 16:44

heat the nut not the bolt.

Use and impact driver

last resort Drill and replace hardware.

johno1234

2797 posts

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#3230439 14-May-2024 17:01

shrub:

heat the nut not the bolt.

Use and impact driver

last resort Drill and replace hardware.

Impact screwdriver - no tool in my shed has reduced my swearing as much as this thing. Cheap and easy to use, and remarkably effective.

Impact Screwdriver

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3230441 14-May-2024 17:05

Great idea for a new thread.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Bung

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#3230460 14-May-2024 17:47

Rusted flat head screws usually have a really shallow slot in them that doesn't drive well
I'd go straight to a hacksaw or grinder. You're not going to reuse it.

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sir1963

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#3230522 14-May-2024 21:24

We story kind of in line with your frustration.

I had to remove a motor on the end of a conveyer belt in a crushing plant. All the nuts etc of course were rusted and damaged from stray rocks hitting them. The motor hung underneath the unit for protection.

Local "engineer" (I use that term loosely) said he would go up there with a gas cutting torch and take the nuts off.

The engineer had the forethought to use a rope and tied it to the motor, and this is the part where I was thinking "There is something very wrong with this picture", and as the last nut was removed we both understood what...he had tied the other end of the rope to himself, as the motor fell he was rapidly hauled over the end of the conveyer and down towards the pile of crushed stone, fortunately it was only about a 2m fall and nothing apart from his pride was seriously hurt, he even managed to let the gas torch go so that was waving in the wind just above him.

Funny as heck to watch...

tweake

2391 posts

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#3230526 14-May-2024 21:37

mix a bit of acetone with the crc, then apply. penetrating oil takes a very long time to go down the threads.

i have had coach bolts where i could not get in to cut them off, so i welded a bar to the top of them.

dimsim

848 posts

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#3230534 14-May-2024 22:56

you could try something like a 5/10c coin and hold it with a pair of plyers instead of using a flat head screwdriver.

i had the same issue and while that worked better than a screwdriver they were so corroded I still need to reciprosaw them off and replace.