Big Barn’s Retirement Farm Shop

[Big Barn]

I needed to turn the cutting edge around on a loader bucket but 3 of the plow bolts had corroded square shoulders so the nuts couldn’t be removed.

Plow bolts look like this:



Normally I would just torch them off but I didn’t have any the right size (20 mm x2” or 3/4 x2”). And being Sunday I wouldn’t be able to get them today.



My solution was to tack the 3 problem bolt heads in place. Each of the eight nuts had to be heated before removing. Neither my big impact or a 3 foot cheater bar would break them loose otherwise.

With the nuts removed the cutting edge was reversed and repositioned with a pallet jack. Pretty much the only way to do it alone as it weighed a little under 120 pounds.



The remaining bolts were cleaned with a wire brush and reinstalled using a low torque cordless impact.





Using a low torque impact allowed me to use a finger to push up and actually feel the bolt head seating properly while drawing the nut down the threads. Once it was snug I used a bigger impact to actually tighten.

 

[ovrszd]

I commonly rotate cutting edges on the grader I run. They are 5/8"x8"x7'. The first 4-5 times are a struggle until they wear down a bit. Not sure what they weigh.

Fortunately the grader has the ability to swing the table to the side and lay the moldboard horizontal at waist high.

Scrounged my pics but couldn't find one in that position.

 

[Big Barn]

Nice to be able to lay the moldboard flat. I’d HATE to do otherwise. Definitely not a fun one man job!

 

[Big Barn]

I should add that IF I was a repair shop the most efficient method would have been to torch off the entire nut ( with the portion of the bolt it was encasing) and replace with new bolts.

 

[ovrszd]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Sorry for the sidetrack Terry.

Speaking of graders. I bought this grader from the local scrap guy for $300. It's a late thirties model 44 Caterpillar. In this first pic I'm pulling it with my M9540. My Son Danny is running the grader. Men were men back then. He ran it for 2 hours and was done.

 

[Big Barn]

Okay. THAT is just too cool! Any video of it in operation?

 

[tjkubota93]

I should add that IF I was a repair shop the most efficient method would have been to torch off the entire nut ( with the portion of the bolt it was encasing) and replace with new bolts.

That's how we did when I was an equipment mechanic. Torch off and replace.

One fella I worked with decided to re use the bolts one time, since we were out. When he initially tightened the nut down with his impact, the square part slipped and the bolt rotated. It was sharp from scraping the ground and cut his finger wide open.

 

[ovrszd]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Sorry Terry, I do not.

So you aren't too disappointed, here's a video shot from the cab of the grader I run. This young deer decided he could outrun me. He earned it. 28mph.

Deer Race - YouTube

 

[Big Barn]

That's how we did when I was an equipment mechanic. Torch off and replace.

One fella I worked with decided to re use the bolts one time, since we were out. When he initially tightened the nut down with his impact, the square part slipped and the bolt rotated. It was sharp from scraping the ground and cut his finger wide open.

Yikes! That is exactly what I would envision happening!

 

[Big Barn]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Sorry Terry, I do not.

So you aren't too disappointed, here's a video shot from the cab of the grader I run. This young deer decided he could outrun me. He earned it. 28mph.

Deer Race - YouTube

Thanks for the vid, Richard. Of course the road grader was a DEERE right?