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Nut stuck in swivel socket

Yesmar

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
67
Location
Harrisburg, PA
Got a good one for you guys, I got a nut stuck on part of a stud,totally lodged in a swivel socket. It's been there for like three weeks to a month and I need the socket. HALP, The job is done and gone but my socket is useless
 
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AntiqueVises

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Joined
Apr 8, 2016
Messages
147
Location
Sadieville, KY
pics or it didn't happen

all kidding aside how can anyone tell you the best way to remove it if we can't see how it's stuck in there


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Cruzan80

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Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
4,267
Location
Denver, CO
Heat the socket, and canned air upside down on the nut? Heat expansion, rapid cooling of the nut. No guarantee it won't crack something, but should get it off.
 

ocloc24

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Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
977
I don't understand what you're talking about. Definitely a situation where a pic would do more justice. Is the nut stuck on the stud or stuck in your socket? Or is the nut stuck in your socket with a broken piece of stud still in the nut? Idk

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plinker

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Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
4,286
Location
Northern Wi
Thread a bolt in it, put the bolt in a vise and proceed to tap the socket off with a brass punch. The push/pull method with a bolt mentioned above would be something to try first.
 

Infinia

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Oct 2, 2016
Messages
845
Location
SoCal
"nut on part of a stud" what is on the other end of said stud?

what have you tried already?
either a BFH or an air hammer while prying
 

Mr_B

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Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,378
Location
Reading
If enough stud protruding clamp it in vise and grab socket with some big grips and bit of rag and twist and wiggle. if no protruding stud weld a bit on .
 

DadsTools

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Joined
Jul 27, 2017
Messages
1,852
Running a bolt into the nut is probably the best first try. However, I'd try the extraction as per sberry's suggestion before I started beating on anything. I'd run a nut and a couple of heavy washers on the bolt first. First washer should be about the diameter of the bolt, second one a washer with a wide enough hole that can catch the rim of the socket opening without protruding into the opening itself. Then snug it all up to the rim and begin tightening the nut with a wrench against the washer in a manner like a gear puller. Put the head of the bolt in the vise, let the socket hang free. If the initial movement doesn't pop it free, add more wide washers until the nut can pass through their collective centers. This allows you to put most of the pressure on the nut instead of beating the socket or trying to twist it once you threaded a bolt down to the bottom of the socket then applying pressure to the socket while crushing down on the inside bottom of the socket with the end of the bolt. It also allows you to apply maximum force with the leverage of a wrench. The pressure applied to the rim of the socket is where it can take it the most, since sockets are made from extruded steel 'cable' that can take more pressure along their length than they can from the inside outward. Use a really high quality bolt. We have to make the same kinds of pullers when servicing old screw-in-bulb Christmas light sockets made mid-60s or before that have a brass threaded 'cup' pressed into a bakelite shell so we can extract the core without breaking the brittle bakelite shell. If it's really stubborn, heating the outside of the socket along with some PB could help. If this doesn't free it, you're in for a trip to your favorite tool supplier.
 
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Mr_B

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Nov 21, 2016
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5,378
Location
Reading
^ he can't run a bolt in it as sound like part of busted stud is in the nut ...
 
OP
Y

Yesmar

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
67
Location
Harrisburg, PA
Ok guys. Thanks for all the replies. I understand it's a silly question without a picture. I will try to upload a picture some how. I'm heading to the shop soon.
 

Provincial

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Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
6,872
Location
Near Salem, OR
Try drilling a hole in the broken off stud and either tapping it for a small bolt or use a self-tapping screw or sheet metal screw to provide a grip to try to pull the nut out. Once you have something to grip, try applying a pull on it while tapping on the socket to shake things loose.
 

JimNC

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Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Messages
580
Location
NC
Calculate your hourly rate and the time it'll take to do anything more complicated than give the thing a few whacks on the bench, then throw it out and buy a new one.
 

American Locomotive

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Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
10,990
Location
Rhode Island
A buddy of mine showed me a trick where you just lay the socket down on a hard surface, and give the side of the socket a good whack with a hammer. A few blows and it whatever is stuck in it usually comes flying out. Not too great for the chrome plating of course.
 

SantaAna12

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Joined
Mar 1, 2012
Messages
1,091
Tough crowd.

To Plinker: good for you and your brass punch post.

BFH!

Air hammers!

I am surprised no one mentioned a blow torch.

Here is mine: start with a good light. Start after lunch. Have some Bill Evans playing.
Invite your Uncle over. The one with all the tools.

And yeah......post a pic.
 
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