Clamping allthread without damaging the thread...

[kball]

Is there a tool or a good technique you guys have found for clamping onto allthread without messing up the threads?

Basically I have multiple rods that I need to get locknuts off of one end. The other end also has a locknut but is inaccessible. Today I got some off but it was a pain. I used a regular nut cut in half and then vise gripped that cut nut around the allthread. Problem is some of the rods are hard to get to so I ended up taping the cut nut pieces to the vise grips so I could do it one handed. Looking for an easier way...

thanks!

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

A bit of rubber inner tube or similar from a bicycle in the jaws of the pliers works wonders.

That self bonding rubber tape wrapped about the threads then pliers applied works too.

 

[kball]

Thanks, I thought about using some type of rubber but I'm not sure it would hold tight enough. These are prevailing torque locknuts so they are pretty tight.

Might try it tomorrow and see how it goes if I can find some rubber....

 

[justme-]

how about welding that nut halves to the vice grip jaws? If you have a lot to do this might be a good solution.

 

[1320stang]

I like the cutting in half and welding the halves to the vise grips. Do it twice and offset the nuts so you can double nut them together like you normally would.

 

[jakemac]

You could try a piece of thick leather on the threads as well.

 

[92integra]

Blocks of wood and a vise.

 

[kball]

how about welding that nut halves to the vice grip jaws? If you have a lot to do this might be a good solution.

I like the cutting in half and welding the halves to the vise grips. Do it twice and offset the nuts so you can double nut them together like you normally would.

More good ideas that were discussed at work today. Problem is some of the rods are in tight areas so I have to angle the vise grips in order to get them in there so welding would only work for some of the rods I have to work with.

I went to HD to try and find a 1/2 coupling nut to cut in half and give me a bigger nut to work with, of course, they were out of that size...

 

[kball]

You could try a piece of thick leather on the threads as well.

Leather might work better than rubber

Blocks of wood and a vise.

haha nice, wish I had that much room to work with.

 

[kball]

Just to give you guys an idea of what I'm dealing with in the space constraints... kind of hard to get to the rods in the back with two hands and deal with vise grips and little half nut pieces.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Sorry for my crappy finger drawn pics.

Chris

 

[kball]

haha nice! If my boss gives me enough time maybe I'll try this!

 

[Holt]

I think bahco (snap on) makes a adjustable wrench for threaded rod. Not sure if this is what you meant..

 

[Shadowdog500]

haha nice! If my boss gives me enough time maybe I'll try this!

Put a little valve lapping compound in the nut halves to give it a little extra grip. Sears used to sell a little bottle of valve lapping compound to dip Phillips head screwdrivers in to keep them from caming out.

Chris

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Have you tried just blasting them off with an impact?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Could you slide an offset box wrench down onto the existing nut and then use two extra nuts to create a quick "double nut" at the exposed top end of the all-thread? Then use a second box wrench on the top nut of the "double nut" to pull against in order to break the primary nut loose. Then break the double nut loose and unscrew it all by hand.

I had this same thought, but sometimes those crown nuts can be a ******* to run off. It might work to run the crown nut all the way up, pull the double nuts and clamp on to the allthread with the vice grips below the crown nut and run it off.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cut the nut in half, clamp to a bolt while epoxying them onto the vise grip jaws and in 5 min or so you should be good to go.

After you are done with the job, just pop them off the vise grip jaws.

for griping threaded things in a vise, I split the proper nut at the point of the nut, but only on one side. thread in to, clamp in the vise, cut, file whatever on the threaded part, than the split nut will deburr as it comes off... that won't do for this job, but thought I'd mention it. (I have a growing number of these split nuts collecting in a medicine capsule near my vise...)

 

[kball]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Jeremy, I mentioned earlier about trying to get a coupling nut at HD and they were out of the size (1/2") I needed. May try another store today.

Bigblue, I haven't tried an impact but I think the whole rod would just spin. I've been putting WD-40 on the top nut I'm removing and after wrenching them off they are warm to the touch.

Outlaw, as previously mentioned I can't have the nut halves, welded or glued, into one position since I have to get in at different angles with the vise grips...

I think at this point the easiest and fastest solution is the coupling nut. Will give me a much larger tool to work with and more clamping friction.

 

[amolaver]

Could you use a MAPP torch to heat them?

ahm

 

[4xdog]

Cut a slot in the top of the rod for a screwdriver?

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah I missed the angle part...

With the longer coupler nut, once it's split, use some duct tape and give it a "hinge" on one side; then you can one hand the nut, and one hand the grips a bit easier with less risk of dropping the pieces. As you mentioned, the larger coupler will give you a bigger "clamp jaw" to hold.

 

[rlitman]

Instead of leather, a strip of sheet lead makes the ultimate material for grabbing threads with force.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Is there a tool or a good technique you guys have found for clamping onto allthread without messing up the threads?

Basically I have multiple rods that I need to get locknuts off of one end. The other end also has a locknut but is inaccessible. Today I got some off but it was a pain. I used a regular nut cut in half and then vise gripped that cut nut around the allthread. Problem is some of the rods are hard to get to so I ended up taping the cut nut pieces to the vise grips so I could do it one handed. Looking for an easier way...

thanks!

Yeah. Double-triple nut.

 

[mossyboy6]

Cut a slot in the top of the rod for a screwdriver?

This gets my vote.

 

[-Brent-]

It doesn't look like enough room for a nut splitter, but that may be the ticket.

I like the idea of using a nut (even tacked to the end of the all thread) for the clamping/wrenching surface.

 

[GYPSY400]

I would just vice grip to the threaded Rod and fix the threads after with a dye.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

So there is no way to access the locknuts on one end of the rod? And you need to get the other nuts off? Any chance you have a picture? I'm having a hard time visualizing it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Kball, looking at the pic again, I'm going back to my original suggestion except to come at the All thread from the top. grip the tip, and if you need more twist hold than the grips will do at that angle, just stick a screw driver between the jaws to hold it.

 

[AndyA]

Thread two nuts on the allthread, jam them together. Put a wrench on one of the nuts, or vise-grips, or whatever.

The two nuts jammed together won't spin as long as you're torqueing one of them in the direction that jams them tighter. Want to torque the other direction, use the other nut.

Your vise grip may chew up the outside of the nut, but it'll protect the threads.

 

[srmofo]

If they're are nylon locknuts just heat them up and melt the goo out

 

[metalart]

http://www.mccusainc.com/Tools/Threaded-Rod-Wrench.htm


basically what everyone here is suggesting you make

 

[kball]

Thanks for all the ideas, I got some coupling nuts tonight so I will use them. Holding the rod with a screwdriver/slot in the top would not give me enough leverage. These prevailing lock nuts are crazy tight. They are not nylock nuts so there's nothing to melt. Nut splitter was one of the first things I looked into and it won't fit in the channel. Tried some heat and it didn't seem to make a big difference. Probably needed more heat but I didn't want to get crazy with it. My bosses are very picky about how work is done. That threaded rod wrench looks great if only it would open up to I could put it down on the other side of the lock nut. May still look into getting one.

 

[Fugio]

Duct tape and vise grips. Then just run a nut over it a few times to clean up any minor damage.

Or, just clamp it and blame the damage on another guy in the shop!

 

[metalart]

can you get a flex ratcheting wrench on it and then the threaded rod wrench on top... should be able to inch it loose?

 

[APEowner]

Thread two nuts on the allthread, jam them together. Put a wrench on one of the nuts, or vise-grips, or whatever.

The two nuts jammed together won't spin as long as you're torqueing one of them in the direction that jams them tighter. Want to torque the other direction, use the other nut.

Maybe I don't fully understand the issue but this seems like the solution to me. If this just doesn't work for whatever reason I personally wouldn't worry about protecting the all thread. It's so inexpensive compared to even the lowest cost of labor that I'd just clamp it with locking pliers and replace it afterwards. You mentioned that you tried heat. If you can get in thee with the torch just cut the.nuts off.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

WTH is a prevailing lock nut? I saw somebody refer to them as crown top. Are we talking about stovers?

 

[Beemer533]

WTH is a prevailing lock nut? I saw somebody refer to them as crown top. Are we talking about stovers?

I hadn't heard the term either, but it looks like it just refers to a lock nut (like a nylon lock nut)..

"PREVAILING TORQUE NUT
A type of lock nut which has a prevailing torque to assist in preventing self loosening. There are two main categories of prevailing torque nuts, all metal and nylon insert. All metal torque prevailing nuts generally gain a prevailing torque by distorting the threads at the top of the nut by some means. Nylon insert torque prevailing nuts ultilise a nylon (or other polymer) insert to achieve a prevailing torque."

http://www.boltscience.com/pages/glossary.htm#p

 

[kball]

WTH is a prevailing lock nut? I saw somebody refer to them as crown top. Are we talking about stovers?

I've only heard lock nuts referred to as either nylock or prevailing. The prevailing are the mechanical/ all metal to me but I guess the term can be used for whichever type..? They are much tougher to install/take off and they are heat resistant compared to the nylock which will melt.

 

[ishiboo]

More pics of the bus/etc?

 

[kball]

More pics of the bus/etc?

Here you go...