Avoiding thread galling - what bolts to attach bucket edge?

[SmallChange]

I just removed the urethane lip on my bucket edge, which was held on by 5 half inch stainless bolts. One of these went from spinning freely to absolutely welded together as I unthreaded the nut, and had to be cut. How do I prevent this?

They were fine thread nuts and bolts, which I now read is a bad idea. Also I did not use anti-seize lubricant, which would have helped. I could also have used, say, 304 bolts with 410 nuts, which would have been better.

But is stainless just the wrong choice? What kind of nut and bolt would you use to attach a urethane edge (or perhaps a tooth bar)? Zinc plated steel perhaps?

 

[RickB]

For me cutting edge bolts are a single use item. Coarse threaded grade 5 or 8 bolts configured for the use (plow, carriage, hex) with a self locking nut. One and done. If they are suitable for re use, so much the better. If not, I'm not fighting them, they come off with the gas ax.

 

[jaydee325]

I don't care for stainless fasteners for this reason. They are prone to galling. Lubricating helps, but why bother? Just use carbon steel fasteners as RickB stated and when it comes time to remove them, torch them off.

 

[Fallon]

Stainless is very prone to galling, especially with a power driver of any sort. Stainless conducts heat poorly. So when you zip it on with an impact, the threads heat up a lot & it dramatically increases the chances of galling. Anti-sieze & a slow manual wratchet help minimize problems.

I'd just use steel or galvanized bolts for most tractor stuff.

 

[Rustyiron]

.... especially if you're urethane edge is on only for a few months in the winter.

 

[Sberry]

We oil almost every bolt we install,,, nothing exotic but penetrating spray.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have never galled stainless that I manually tightened with a wrench, but until I figured it out I galled plenty with an impact gun, also stainless with a brass nut works well and is not as bad to gall.

 

[SmallChange]

Mmmm, I should have mentioned, I did tighten these with a wrench, but as you say, many people online have pointed out impact guns increase likelihood of galling. If I had combined fine stainless threads with an impact gun, maybe I would have galled every single one!

I thought about using stainless 410 nuts, but didn't think about brass. I don't think of it as being very strong and didn't try. Curious, you ever strip one?

 

[AWSubie]

Never use stainless bolts with stainless nuts. Use plain steel nuts with stainless bolts.

 

[ruffdog]

I find that grade 8 bolts/nuts gall less too.