Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Some of you may have read my previous query on how to deal with 65-year old rusted nuts and bolts.

I'm happy to report that the six critical nuts came loose with liberal applications of PBBlaster (recommended by Rob) and brute force (a 25" breaker bar and six-point socket).

The nut splitter that I bought at the local O'Reilly auto parts store as backup broke on it's first trial. Took it back and got my money back.

So far this project has caused me to buy seven new tools, and the springs aren't off the axle yet

Thanks to those who had recommendations and especially Rob who recommended the PBBlaster.

<Chas>

The only better rust dissolver is Kroil or AeroKroil.

Buying tools is good! I got an air riveting tool to build my ToyBox!

Tom

GuitarPhotog wrote:So far this project has caused me to buy seven new tools, and the springs aren't off the axle yet

That's a good project! I don't normally get the excuse to buy more than one new tool with a project.

Yep gotta love Kroil and time and heat and an impact wrench and replacing bolts and U bolts and...

The best nut remover I have ever used is a 4" cutting wheel x 1.2mm thick mounted in my 4" angle grinder. These wheels slice thru steel like a hot knife in butter. Personaly, I wouldn't bother to try and remove nuts that had been rusted for 65 years. The "U" bolts would need to be replaced so I would cut them off. It's very easy to cut the "U" bolts without damaging the springs with one of these wheels. I have cut 1/2" x 1 1/4 steel in no more than a minute and a half. These things are the greatest invention since sliced bread. I cut all the round steel for making the bolts for my TD in seconds which was so much faster and easier that using a hacksaw.

Kody

I agree...cut off wheels rule!

MANY years ago I went into my welding supply store to get a grinding wheel for my angle grinder. When I talked with the counter guy about what I needed he suggested:

http://www.buyweld.com/63102.html

The Pferd cut off wheels is all that I've used since then. They work really well for face grinding and shine as cut-off wheels.



They aren't that expensive either for the work they do.

When the wheels were down I still save the small diameter parts and they get used up for close quarter cutting/grinding. No waste!

Tom

Kody wrote:The best nut remover I have ever used is a 4" cutting wheel x 1.2mm thick mounted in my 4" angle grinder. These wheels slice thru steel like a hot knife in butter. Personaly, I wouldn't bother to try and remove nuts that had been rusted for 65 years. The "U" bolts would need to be replaced so I would cut them off. It's very easy to cut the "U" bolts without damaging the springs with one of these wheels. I have cut 1/2" x 1 1/4 steel in no more than a minute and a half. These things are the greatest invention since sliced bread. I cut all the round steel for making the bolts for my TD in seconds which was so much faster and easier that using a hacksaw.

Kody

There is no way I can replace the U-bolts, the shock bracket is welded to them! I know, bad engineering practice but I wasn't there to correct it when the trailer was built (I was only 1 year old).

Cutting the bolts isn't a solution when it's not a through bolt but is a stud welded to the trailer frame instead. Re-welding anything on this frame is completely out of the question for several reasons: 1, the frame is securely bolted to the plywood floor of the trailer, and 2, the frame is sheathed with the aluminum body skin.

While I appreciate alternative solutions and suggestions, after all Rob48 suggested the PBBlaster penetrating oil, working on a 65 year old trailer is vastly different from working on a new or home built trailer.

<Chas>