Broken bolt help needed

[FTG-05]

This is the middle blade trunnion for my kubota ZTR ZD326.

I have a welder (Lincoln SP-175Plus MIG) and 5/16" nuts but no left hand drills or easy-outs. I don't know if anybody in Fayetteville will have them either. I may have to go into Hsv/Grainger to get them if needed.

How screwed am I?

I have to go into Fay tomorrow to the Kubota dealer to replace the bolt anyway.

 

[sweetk30]

if i am seeing that blurry shaft pic correct at full size your screwed . looks like the 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock position the shaft is cracked .

otherwise clean it good and weld the nut on HOT and let cool 100% then heat the shaft good and try with a hand wrench to remove it .

or take it with you and see if the deal has a trick .

 

[gofastwclass]

I agree with Sweetk30 on both accounts.

If the shaft is indeed not cracked the welding a nut to the shaft trick works well. You need to be accurate with your welder to get it to work but once you've gotten that to work you will wonder why you ever tried to drill broken bolts in the past. The ultimate is a TIG welder but if you have a MIG it will work.

Again that is only if the shaft isn't cracked.

 

[trackwelder]

Place a washer with a slightly smaller diameter than the broken bolt and weld the center closed. Place a nut on the washer and weld the center of the nut to the top. Back it off with a wrench or socket. Don’t get frustrated if the first couple attempts break off. The heat is getting deeper every time you repeat the process. I use to have coffee cans full of extracted fastners. I rarely use and other method of removing rusted or broken items.

 

[plinker]

Place a washer with a slightly smaller diameter than the broken bolt and weld the center closed. Place a nut on the washer and weld the center of the nut to the top. Back it off with a wrench or socket. Don’t get frustrated if the first couple attempts break off. The heat is getting deeper every time you repeat the process. I use to have coffee cans full of extracted fastners. I rarely use and other method of removing rusted or broken items.

+1, I've found coarse thread nuts works best for doing this, sometimes it may take 4-5 attempts, it can depend on how good the plug weld is.

Seems like the bigger the bolt the easier it is to get out as well.

 

[FTG-05]

if i am seeing that blurry shaft pic correct at full size your screwed . looks like the 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock position the shaft is cracked .

otherwise clean it good and weld the nut on HOT and let cool 100% then heat the shaft good and try with a hand wrench to remove it .

or take it with you and see if the deal has a trick .

My apologies for the blurry picture, I didn't realize it was blurry from looking at it in my shop before I came in and downloaded it onto my computer.

Having said that, I don't see any cracks in the bolt shaft, just the two rupture points you mentioned. That face has now been dinged up since the first thing I tried was to use a punch and move it out. No luck.

The geared shaft that the bolt is stuck in is a $148 Kubota part. Hence, I'm gong to refrain from welding on it myself, even though that's my preferred go-to for removing broken bolts. Monday, I'm going to take it into my local welding shop and see if they can TIG weld a nut/washer and get it removed. Plus, I 'spect they have far more experience with this than I have.

Thanks!

 

[Sliceddeuce]

just curious...…...which way does that shaft rotate?? And was that left hand thread to begin with?

 

[FTG-05]

It's a right handed thread.

 

[trackwelder]

That’s a easy extraction. You have everything you need to get it done.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Place a washer with a slightly smaller diameter than the broken bolt and weld the center closed. Place a nut on the washer and weld the center of the nut to the top. Back it off with a wrench or socket. Don’t get frustrated if the first couple attempts break off. The heat is getting deeper every time you repeat the process. I use to have coffee cans full of extracted fastners. I rarely use and other method of removing rusted or broken items.

When you do the above, tap with a hammer after each weld to stress relieve the weld, then weld some more...

 

[Griff93]

If you can't get your local welding shop to do this, hit me up. I do this regularly at our shop just outside of huntsville. I normally charge $40 for removing a bolt like this. I've done hundreds of broke bolt removals with a tig welder. I've only had two I was unable to get out.

 

[FTG-05]

If you can't get your local welding shop to do this, hit me up. I do this regularly at our shop just outside of huntsville. I normally charge $40 for removing a bolt like this. I've done hundreds of broke bolt removals with a tig welder. I've only had two I was unable to get out.

I took it to Terry's Fabrication in Ardmore yesterday morning. He said what you said, almost word for word. He's done hundreds, only had two that didn't come out.

Mine? It took longer to get the ZTR lifted up than it did to get the bolt out. I had him take the other two out as well in case they were overtorqued and/or broken.

Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it! Whereabouts is your shop?

Thanks,

 

[Griff93]

No problem at all. Glad you got it taken care of. My shop is out in the country between New Market and Gurley.