Harbor Freight Hose reel mount?

[unclerandy]

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/93000-93999/93897.pdf

How the heck are you guys tightening the lag bolts that go through the mount?? At least on the new one I just bought the reel side plates are completely in the way of using anything but a box or opened end wrench. Am I missing something obvious here? It wouldn't be a good time getting 1/2 inch lag bolts through wood even if pre drilled an inch at a time!

 

[monomach]

Make a mounting board. Counterbored bolts & washers. Heads on the opposite side of the wood and nuts on the face of the bracket, obviously.

That's both the easiest and safest way to mount a hose reel.

 

[Rhyno]

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/93000-93999/93897.pdf

How the heck are you guys tightening the lag bolts that go through the mount?? At least on the new one I just bought the reel side plates are completely in the way of using anything but a box or opened end wrench. Am I missing something obvious here? It wouldn't be a good time getting 1/2 inch lag bolts through wood even if pre drilled an inch at a time!

It looks to be disassembly time.... or break out the welder and add some tabs or brackets to the outside.

Post pics of what you do....

.

.

.

 

[unclerandy]

I tried to no avail to loosen the center bolt that holds the spool on. Couldn't budge it. I don't have a welder.

 

[Qrazy]

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/93000-93999/93897.pdf

How the heck are you guys tightening the lag bolts that go through the mount?? At least on the new one I just bought the reel side plates are completely in the way of using anything but a box or opened end wrench. Am I missing something obvious here? It wouldn't be a good time getting 1/2 inch lag bolts through wood even if pre drilled an inch at a time!

Another thing you could do is mark the holes then predrill with a drill size that is smaller than the minor diameter of the thread. Then without the reel in place start you lags and get them in about half way (don't go all the way you want the lags to do that on the final tightening). Then take them out, essentially you have just made is so once you put the reel up you should be able to work the lags into a slightly prethreaded hole. I put mine into concrete using studs, I found using the gearwrench ratcheting set from Sears (regularly $99.99 on sale for $49.99) worked perfect for me getting in behind the reel. Good luck.

 

[larry4406]

Here is what I did. Post #4.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239097

 

[gary300]

I tried to no avail to loosen the center bolt that holds the spool on. Couldn't budge it. I don't have a welder.

The nut on the center bolt is nothing special, just a regular nut (not left hand threads or anything) with a split lockwasher. If you can get this nut off to release the spool from the bracket, then mounting the bracket becomes very easy, even if you are alone. Just get a good wrench on it and don't be afraid to apply some torque, it will break loose.

The one I did on my HF reel was a little tight, but not overly tight.

Good luck, you will love this reel!