Removing Broken Front Weight Bolts

[CharlieTR]

I bought a third party grill with bumper/weight rack. Bolted it to cast iron frame of tractor and added the front weights. Turns out I added too much weight, and with a little help from running headlong into hiden ditches the four heavy fine threaded grade 8 bolts broke off. That was a couple of years ago. Now I want to remove those broken bolts and add the grill again. I installed the bolts with thead lock, I think the red heavy duty strengh that needs a tourch to remove it. I never worked with cast metal before and because that part is the main tractor casting, I am a little concerned about damaging the tractor. I there anything I need to worry about when adding heat to that case iron? I know not to quench it (with water).

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[kennyd]

Heating cast iron is no problem...then try left-hand drill bits and hopefully the broken part will turn out with the friction of drilling.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you have a welding machine, you might try welding a nut on top of the broken bolt. The heat from welding the nut on should be enough to melt the loctite and also give you a good hold on the bolt. I have found this works pretty well with most bolts, especially hardened bolts that are a PIA to drill. You just have to make sure that you only weld to the bolt and not the tractor frame. Try using a slightly smaller diameter nut that the OD of the bolt.

 

[Giles]

If you have a welding machine, you might try welding a nut on top of the broken bolt. The heat from welding the nut on should be enough to melt the loctite and also give you a good hold on the bolt. I have found this works pretty well with most bolts, especially hardened bolts that are a PIA to drill. You just have to make sure that you only weld to the bolt and not the tractor frame. Try using a slightly smaller diameter nut that the OD of the bolt.

Good advise, but welding a flat washer to the broken stud and then welding a nut to the washer works better for me.

 

[Mace Canute]

Turns out I added too much weight, and with a little help from running headlong into hidden ditches the four heavy fine threaded grade 8 bolts broke off.

Wow. You're lucky you didn't snap your front axle.

 

[leonz]

suitacse weight saga begins;

I bought a third party grill with bumper/weight rack. Bolted it to cast iron frame of tractor and added the front weights. Turns out I added too much weight, and with a little help from running headlong into hiden ditches the four heavy fine threaded grade 8 bolts broke off. That was a couple of years ago. Now I want to remove those broken bolts and add the grill again. I installed the bolts with thead lock, I think the red heavy duty strengh that needs a tourch to remove it. I never worked with cast metal before and because that part is the main tractor casting, I am a little concerned about damaging the tractor. I there anything I need to worry about when adding heat to that case iron? I know not to quench it (with water).

Thanks,
Charlie

If you use a welder be sure to disconnect the alternator wiring and the battery leads (and use safety goggles when unhooking and rehooking the battery and alternator please:thumbsup:


leonz