Removing stuck fasteners
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Dirt-jammed threads are a pain when you're putting a bolt in. They're much worse when you're trying to remove a bolt. Imagine what happens if the thread is jammed at the far end of a bolt which you're trying to remove. You turn the bolt head, so the top of the bolt is getting pulled out. However, the bottom of the bolt is jammed in place. In this situation, it's quite likely that the two halves of the bolt will seek a divorce. Suddenly, the bolt becomes very easy to turn, because the top half has broken off and isn't under tension any more. The bottom half of the thread is stuck inside some bit of your bike. Good luck getting it out! | Dirt-jammed threads are a pain when you're putting a bolt in. They're much worse when you're trying to remove a bolt. Imagine what happens if the thread is jammed at the far end of a bolt which you're trying to remove. You turn the bolt head, so the top of the bolt is getting pulled out. However, the bottom of the bolt is jammed in place. In this situation, it's quite likely that the two halves of the bolt will seek a divorce. Suddenly, the bolt becomes very easy to turn, because the top half has broken off and isn't under tension any more. The bottom half of the thread is stuck inside some bit of your bike. Good luck getting it out! | ||
| − | Remember: bolts should turn smoothly. If they don't, there is something wrong.This means a really stuck bolt will not allow penetrating oils in to do any good. | + | Remember: bolts should turn smoothly. If they don't, there is something wrong.This means a really stuck bolt will not allow penetrating oils in to do any good.... |
*There are two effective means to break the friction that corrosion has caused. One is through mechanical movement, a proper good whack with a hammer. The other is through differential heating. Making one part expand more than the other. | *There are two effective means to break the friction that corrosion has caused. One is through mechanical movement, a proper good whack with a hammer. The other is through differential heating. Making one part expand more than the other. | ||
*With heating, bear in mind axles and other important structures may lose their strength if they are heated much above 300 degrees. If you have the oil and grease starting to smoke, then you are in the 300-degree range. | *With heating, bear in mind axles and other important structures may lose their strength if they are heated much above 300 degrees. If you have the oil and grease starting to smoke, then you are in the 300-degree range. | ||
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