Broken Wheel Bolt

[Dan Hunter]

Friday, I went out to the ranch and found the left front tire punctured/flat. While removing the wheel a bolt head snapped off. Early after delivery the wheel had come loose. It was going on the trailer to get the iMatch installed among other issues and I asked them to check the wheel. It appears they simply shot the bolts back in using an air tool rather than inspect it for damage. Turns out that one of the bolts had damaged threads that jammed up on the wheel thus invalidating the possibility of an easy out. I drilled out the core, used a steel capable skilsaw blade by hand and cut right up against the hub threads. Patience? It took all I had. Then, I used a very fine punch to work the edge by the cut and got the remaining part of the tube to roll into itself and clear the hub threads. The attached photo is missing parts of the "cylinder" but they came off under the punch. I ran a tap through all the holes and flushed them with Rem Oil then used a patch on a .308 bore scrubber to wipe the threads. With the wheel back on, all bolts took a 103 lb/ft torque.

I'm insanely happy.

 

[2458n]

Extra slice of pie for you. good job not rushed and it worked.

 

[powerscol]

I would sure raise a bit of heck with your JD dealer. Your time and effort should be worth something!!!!

 

[Dan Hunter]

Well, I did reward myself with a bottle of Johnny Black. I can't fathom what it would have cost if I compromised those threads and couldn't live with five of the six bolts.

 

[Baby Grand]

An air wrench can be a blessing or a curse, depending on who's hands it's in.
I applaud your patience, fixing that botched job with skill and knowledge.

 

[Mace Canute]

That's a very fine job of centering your drill.

 

[TIDE HSV]

I've got a similar problem, except I can't blame it on anybody but me. I have an old Ford 1100. I had the front tires replaced and the very last bolt, I twisted off, and, yes, I was being lazy and using an air impact wrench. The bolts are marked as hardened and I've had a devil of a time with those and an easy out before. Also, the threaded hole goes all the way through the hub, so my thoughts have turned in the direction of, if I can get a small enough bit, using a manual impact wrench to drive the broken off bolt on through the hole. OTOH, am I overthinking this? It's a six bolt hub and I have five left. Do I need to worry about that sixth bolt?

 

[jimmysisson]

2wd? Don't worry. 4wd? Don't worry. As long as the others are torqued properly you should be ok. A bit hard to believe they're hardened, though. Did you try a drill, carefully centered of course?
Jim

 

[TIDE HSV]

2wd? Don't worry. 4wd? Don't worry. As long as the others are torqued properly you should be ok. A bit hard to believe they're hardened, though. Did you try a drill, carefully centered of course?
Jim

Thanks for replying, Jim. I double-checked and they are indeed not hardened. I was misled by the color and didn't look for the hardened marks. It is a 2-wheel drive, so all those front wheels are doing is steering and supporting the front. Shipping weight on this tractor is only a little over 1100 lbs. It has a bumper plate on the front which someone mounted and I'd guess it weighs only about 100 lbs or so. So, IOW, not a really a heavy machine. The six bolts looked like overkill to me anyway. I'm inclined to let the drill/easy out routine ride over to fall...

 

[whis]

if you have a welder weld a washer to the stud then a nut to the washer and turn it out.

 

[TIDE HSV]

if you have a welder weld a washer to the stud then a nut to the washer and turn it out.

Thanks for replying, Whis. I've had one friend get a bolt extracted that way by a guy who does a lot of welding on old tractors. It was tricky and mine would be also. I think my best bet, now that I looked again and the bolt is not hardened, is the easy-out solution. I have a low-speed, high torque drill perfect for the job and I have the right size easy out on hand. I've played with the idea of a welder for a while and I had a friend pass away a year or so ago, who had both arc and gas welders, which his widow has for sale. My wife has me on a strict regimen of anytime I buy another tool, one has to go. I did manage to make a case for a press he had, which has come in very handy. However, I really just don't have the time to acquire another skill...

 

[whis]

nothing tricky about it I can have it out in less than 5 min. You might get lucky and spin it out while drilling

 

[pmsmechanic]

You can also buy reverse twist drill bits. It's often a very quick easy way to get a broken bolt out. The drill bits aren't expensive either.

 

[TIDE HSV]

nothing tricky about it I can have it out in less than 5 min. You might get lucky and spin it out while drilling

I've done it before but never in five minutes. I'll not get lucky. The tractor is a 1981 model and the hubs are pretty rusty. I've thought about having the running gear sand-blasted and then repaint it myself...

 

[TIDE HSV]

You can also buy reverse twist drill bits. It's often a very quick easy way to get a broken bolt out. The drill bits aren't expensive either.

Well, an easy out is basically that. The twist is much more gradual, the flutes are sharpened and it's hardened. It also has a squared-off chuck at the end, so that it can be used with a wrench, if necessary...

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks for replying, Jim. I double-checked and they are indeed not hardened. I was misled by the color and didn't look for the hardened marks. It is a 2-wheel drive, so all those front wheels are doing is steering and supporting the front. Shipping weight on this tractor is only a little over 1100 lbs. It has a bumper plate on the front which someone mounted and I'd guess it weighs only about 100 lbs or so. So, IOW, not a really a heavy machine. The six bolts looked like overkill to me anyway. I'm inclined to let the drill/easy out routine ride over to fall...

Keep it lubed if you wait. I have had a 5 bolt rim develop a wobble on a BX with a bolt out.

 

[TIDE HSV]

Keep it lubed if you wait. I have had a 5 bolt rim develop a wobble on a BX with a bolt out.

That left you with only four bolts. I wouldn't take a chance on on that...

 

[pmsmechanic]

Well, an easy out is basically that. The twist is much more gradual, the flutes are sharpened and it's hardened. It also has a squared-off chuck at the end, so that it can be used with a wrench, if necessary...

Believe me once you have used a reverse twist drill bit you won't say they are basically the same. There is no comparison. A forward twist drill pushes the broken bolt further into the hole. Most times on a freshly broken bolt the left over threads come out with the reverse twist drill bit. No easy out required.

I'm not knocking easy outs. They have their place and I have a set. I'm just saying there is an easier way.

 

[TIDE HSV]

Believe me once you have used a reverse twist drill bit you won't say they are basically the same. There is no comparison. A forward twist drill pushes the broken bolt further into the hole. Most times on a freshly broken bolt the left over threads come out with the reverse twist drill bit. No easy out required.

I'm not knocking easy outs. They have their place and I have a set. I'm just saying there is an easier way.

Actually, I'd be delighted if the right hand drill pushed the broken off bolt all the way through. If you read what I said above, the threaded hole goes all the way through the hub. In fact, one of the solutions I've considered it that, if I can get an 8mm adapter for my 3/8" hand impact wrench, is to drive the bolt on through the hub and out the back...

 

[pmsmechanic]

Actually, I'd be delighted if the right hand drill pushed the broken off bolt all the way through. If you read what I said above, the threaded hole goes all the way through the hub. In fact, one of the solutions I've considered it that, if I can get an 8mm adapter for my 3/8" hand impact wrench, is to drive the bolt on through the hub and out the back...

I don't agree with you on this. Usually a bolt that breaks is a little distorted at the break. It's far easier to take it out the way it went in. Now your bolt might be an exception.