Advice Needed

[NJHandyGuy]

Currently changing a pool heater. i have 4 bolts that are carriage boths with 11 mm nuts on them rusted shut there is 5" of thread also rusted so a deep soicket is being used but barely touching i've ysed my 11 mm craftsman wrench to break the first bolt loose then i broke the damned thing when the foot shattered box end no help either it cracked. What would you recommend?

they are not turning are in a tight area and i already used a whole can of wd40 broke a 11mm 6 point wrench stripped the top of the bolt and cannot get a deep socket on it yet

cutting it is also not an option as to no room to manuver

 

[gorilla]

WD 40 is not a good penetrating oil, try some liquid wrench or Pb blaster. be sure to wire brush the exposed threads to remove the rust. Heat will also help if possible. IMHO C-man wrenches are not that good, try to buy a better wrench. Good Luck.

 

[trunk monkey]

I would get a can of Kroil, That is great penetrating oil. Can you cut the exposed bolth down closer to the nuts? If so do it this will allow to put a socket on it. I would also get some twist sockets, turbo sockets, tornado sockets, all the same just different names. The harder you turn the deeper they bite. Those will pull those nuts off that are rounded. I would recomend replaceing the old hardware, with good stainless steel ones. Good Luck man.

 

[toxicz28]

I would recomend replaceing the old hardware, with good stainless steel ones. Good Luck man.

+1! But don't forget the antiseize!

 

[ahaidet]

If you can't get your hands on Kroil (It can be hard to find)... I have had very good luck with a 50-50 mix of Acetone and Automatic Transmission Fluid. I keep mine in a squeeze bottle. Soak the rusty hardware in it and let it sit overnight or at least for a few hours. It works magic...

 

[gwis2]

I gotta believe that if you have room for a socket then you have room for a die grinder or a dremel with a cut off wheel. With one of those it doesn't matter about the thread length or rounded off heads - just cut the damn thing off. Either that or you can get specialty sockets like trunk monkey suggests. You have to get that excess bolt length off otherwise... I like PB blaster btw for penetrating oil but your going to get a thousand different responses on which is best. The best one will be the one that works for YOU.

 

[IndyGarage]

I would also try to heat them with a propane torch if possible - just be careful of catching the oil you shot on them on fire.

 

[Randy_che]

Ratchet wrench might work

Dremel with cutoff wheels. Cut the bolts off, slice the nuts, whatever you have to do.

 

[kbs2244]

Grind or cut off the heads.
You will have to pound the square part through after removing the heater.
Replace them with shorter hex head SS.

 

[Scout Driver]

Another vote for PB Blaster.

Scott

 

[NJHandyGuy]

Thanks for the advice. I got the nuts off (god was that an ordeal) and changed everything over nothing on the new hayward 5411 frogger system nothing fits the way it should.

the housing bolts are all plastic any one have any idea why???

One reason i didn't want to cut the bolt is i was reuseing the pad the whole system was sitting on wiht only 65 degrees to move the wrench i was worried about destoying the pad and being plastic heat is an enemy i went to ace and got pb blaster and another craftsman wrench thanks for the advice