Stuck Lug Bolts on 61 bus

[Longmont1302]

I just spoke to my dad on the phone. He's trying to remove a wheel from a 61 11 window bus and he wasn't able to get the lug bolts off. Any chance they're reverse threaded? If they were lug nuts you could heat the nut up with a torch, but I'm not sure what the next step is with a bolt. It would be a hassle for him to haul in a compressor for air tools. Any suggestions?

Scott

[Glenn]

Penetrating oil, heat the drum, smack them with a BFH and a long breaker bar.

You could remove the axle nut and remove the drum with the wheel and take it to the compressor.
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Glenn
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עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[campingbox]

They are not reverse threaded.

Suggest he get a bigger breaker bar. If they are stuck the air tools are not likely to help all that much.

Avoid using a torch or any kind of heat.

[Longmont1302]

Thank you both. It's good to know they're not reverse threaded.

[mandraks]

it is totally possible to snap lug bolts with hand tools, i have done it. What you need is to shock the bolt loose. not "torque" twist it loose.

As in put a really good (stock) lug wrench on it, (one that does fit, and not wobble) then jump on it. or stand on it and hit the end hard with a good size hammer. it is the jolt that matters.

If you put a long cheater bar on it and pull on it (slowly) you are just going to twist the head off the bolt.

Theoretically an air wrench would be good, but many don't fit well enough and round off the bolt head.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but i grew up surrounded by thousands of mechanical engineers....
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

[Clara]

I have a 3/4" impact socket on a 1/2" drive craftsman flex handle that I use for lug nuts. If a stomp on that counterclockwise doesn't loosen the lug, I know a cheater pipe will break a tool. Smack the head of the lug with a hammer to shock it. Always worked for me. Even on buses that sat in a swamp for a decade or two and had frozen drums.

This bus was covered in moss, and the wheels had sunk deep, and no problem undoing the lugs:

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[Longmont1302]

Thanks, Uli and Clara.

Love the photo.

[Alan Brase]

[scottvw]

Spray the hell out of them with PB Blaster

[Mr. Electric Wizard]

"The Blue Wrench" helps too.
I actually use map gas mostly these days. gets a little hotter than propane.
Penetrating oil and a propane torch.
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"Saying what we think gives us a wider conversational range than saying what we know."
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[Zundfolge1432]

This works a lot better than PB blaster

[Alan Brase]

It could work better than PB Blaster and still not work a whit.
PENETRATING OIL is a myth. It names a product that sells you hope, but does not penetrate. It cannot. The rust in the threads makes an interference fit of a few thousandths.
I've dutifully soaked with penetrating oil, then gave up and sawzalled the the nut lengthwise. It does not penetrate.
Have you ever seen a leaf spring on a modern US truck from the rust belt? That rust will swell so much that it will break the leaves or pull apart rust weakend U-bolts.
The only thing that works is HEAT and leave your propane at home unless you have oxygen also. You need to get the outer hole RED HOT to get it bigger than the inner bolt PLUS a few thousandths of rust.
ONCE IT IS MOVING, PENETRATING OIL IS GREAT. KEROSENE WOULD DO JUST AS WELL, or motor oil.
Luckily, the wheel bolts are usually not badly rusted.
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

[cdennisg]

I have broken a couple of 1/2" drive breaker bars trying to remove a lug bolt. Need to find a 3/4" drive 19mm socket.
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nothing

[twistedbug]

You can heat them up with a torch, wont hurt a damn thing

[Alan Brase]

[Zundfolge1432]

[mandraks]

[nlorntson]

Take the drum off with the wheel still attached and work on the lugs from the back side. You can hit them with penetrant and or heat from both sides

[Alan Brase]

[easy e]