Lug Nuts are STUCK!

RonR · Apr 6, 2004

I tried to make sure my BX2200 lug nuts were tight. WOW, someone at the factory or the dealer must have zipped them down with a BIG impact wrench.

I had a 1/2 drive socket on it and couldn't budge them either way. That's good as they won't come loose.

What I'm worried about is getting one OFF if / when I have a flat. I'm thinking of firing up my impact and loosening them, then torquing them per specs.

I'm not even sure my impact wrench will knock them loose. Failing that, I might take it back to the dealer and have them redo them..........

Any thoughts?

gsxr1100 · Apr 6, 2004

I did not take my bx22 tires off yet but when I had my old 455 deere I needed an extention and a 3-foot breaker bar. They were on there. Got them off and put never seize on them and re-torqued to proper spec (which is not all that much).

Ps. It was a 3/4" drive socket

RoyJackson · Apr 6, 2004

Ensure your lug nuts are RH thread...you aren't trying to loosen and are actually tightening, are you? Don't laugh...this happens.

First, make sure you've got the correct socket...preferably a 6 point rather then a 12 point.
Use a breaker bar, not a ratchet wrench.
Use a piece of pipe on the handle of the breaker bar to gain leverage.

If that doesn't work, try the air impact wrench. I wouldn't use a 12 point socket on an impact wrench...6 point sockets give a more positive fit.

Assuming you get them loosened, I strongly suggest you remove them (one at a time, if you don't want to jack the tractor) and put anti-sieze on the male threads. Then torque per your manual.

I hate when some fool uses an air impact to tighten fasteners. It's a real thrill when you've a flat and can't get the wheel loosened up.

RonR · Apr 6, 2004

I should have clarified. I was using a 6 point socket and an 18 inch long breaker bar. No cheater pipe (yet)......

I plan to buy some metric impact sockets if I need the air tool......

I didn't check for LH/RH threads, but I couldn't budge them either direction.....

THKS.
Ron

gsxr1100 · Apr 6, 2004

Back then I tried a 12" with a snap-on dead blow rubber hammer and got ZERO out of it..but the 3-footer worked! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JimR · Apr 6, 2004

What you need is one of them 3/4 inch impact wrenches. That will do the trick for you. I bought one after I almost killed myself taking off the rear wheel nuts on my old Ford 8N that I had 6 years ago. I had a 2 foot long Snap-On breaker bar and a 6 foot pipe to break the lug nuts loose. My breaker bar snapped while I was standing on it trying to bounce the nuts loose. It **** near drove me into the ground. I then took the torch out and heated them up one at a time to break them loose. I had to repaint the wheels after that. I ran to Sears and bought a 3/4 drive impact that day. It has saved my butt many times since and well worth the $200.00.

ZappaCrappa · Apr 6, 2004

My neighbor had a JD 4500 and he could not keep his lug nuts tight on his tractors rear wheels.

cisco · Apr 6, 2004

I've an impact wrench, but when one is not around a compressor, an alternative is needed. My boat trailer has wheel lugs that tend to stick (salt water exposure, despite lots of grease), and if one has a flat tire a million miles from nowhere (I did) and in the second week of a vacation in which the boat/trailer have been in and out of salt water daily, the tire needs to come off. So ... enter the 4 way wrench, essentially an "X" configuration with limbs 3 feet long (1.5 feet each off the center of the "X"), each with a different sized socket at the end (metric, inch, car, ? monster sized). When one puts the correct socket onto the wheel lug, one has the leverage of pushing down on 1 limb (90 degrees from the socket on the lug) and pulling up on the other (180 degrees away). A lot of torque can be generated. I always have one in my boat when I trailer it.
Cost - about $20 at Walmart.
Just an idea, inexpensive and simple to use.

_RaT_ · Apr 6, 2004

A 1/2" quality one will do and be immensely more useful. Mine will either remove the nuts/bolts or shear them. For maximum torque, do not use an extension and use impact sockets.