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.

Bird · Apr 6, 2004

Cisco, I still carry a 4-way in the car all the time. Never know when it might be needed.

Henro · Apr 6, 2004

My 4-way cost me $600 about thirteen years ago...

About $15 for the wrench, and about $585 for new front teeth when the little L-shape lug wrench I had been pushing down on with my foot, sprung up and turned the front teeth to powder...I was lucky...the teeth could be replaced. Could have been an eye... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Still not sure why my foot slipped off that little wrench...

Bird · Apr 6, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Still not sure why my foot slipped off that little wrench )</font>

I'll bet if your foot hadn't slipped off the wrench, the wrench would have slipped off the lug nut. Either way is not good. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

GerardC · Apr 6, 2004

I'm with you bird. I also carry the 4-way. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Junkman · Apr 6, 2004

For my car I have AAA, for everything else, I have my Snap On 1/2" drive impact. 40 years old and still going strong... It's Priceless. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MidMichigan · Apr 7, 2004

Had to use my 4 way today on the mail route luckly the lug nuts weren't to tight so I was able to change the tire myself. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Not 1 person drove by while I was changing it, the minute I started to clean up my hands after it was all done 2 cars drove by. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Lisa

b6200hst · Apr 8, 2004

I forget where I read this but, it sounded realistic to me:
Don't put never-seize on the lug bolts or nuts. The never-seize is TOO good at it's job and can cause lug nuts to loosen over time with cooling and heating. This is likely not too much of a problem on tractors but is more applicable to automobiles. It was recommended to use a light oil on the threads, and as mentioned, only on the bolt, not in the nut. And don't use too much, more is not always better.

Junkman · Apr 8, 2004

I have been using in on my car lug nuts for over 25 years so far and with the exception of the loose nut behind the steering wheel, I have never had a problem. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

gsxr1100 · Apr 8, 2004

I must disagree or be an exception because I have been using it on all lug nuts since 1991 (or around) and never had a problem. If any, it might cause over torqueing since lubes on threads increase torque anywhere from 5 to 18%

_RaT_ · Apr 8, 2004

I put never seize on the lug threads too. For that matter on most everything I can. Have never had anything back out or loosen up. Dry threads and a dry taper on the lugs can give you inaccurate torque due to the friction of threads or mating taper durface.

GerardC · Apr 8, 2004

I usually give a quick squirt of WD-40 ( Water Displacement on the 40th try ) to the studs when I have a wheel off. This has worked good for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif