Tight Bolts on BX24

[Hotwheels]

I have about 50 some hours on my Bx24 now --- find all kinds of uses for it, moving dirt, boulders, carving out a walking path, etc.... I bought the Bro-Tek thumb and installed that and use it for lifting rocks -- nice tool. I also bought the skid plate, but I am having problems loosening the bolts on the rear of the tractor. I am trying to use a 19mm wrench that has a handle about a foot long and I CANNOT get the bolts to even budge. I can do my age in push-ups so I think I have enough strength to loosen anything that is "normally" tight.

Richard at BRO-TEK suggested using an impact wrench. I can probably borrow one from my neighbor, but I am curious if others who have installed the skid plate on a BX24 have had any issues in loosening these bolts?

Thanks,
JR

 

[lp333]

Have you tried increasing your leverage by slipping a pipe on the wrench to increase its length?

 

[cyberknight]

I also put a Bro-Tec skid plate in. Those bolts were tight on mine also. I used a 1/2 inch breaker bar with a cheater pipe and socket to get them loose. Watch your knuckels when they break loose.
Glenn

 

[Hotwheels]

I will try the pipe -- if that does not give me the leverage, then I will go radical!

 

[chrisjbell]

Make sure you tighten the whee out of them when you get your skid plate on. Might be a good time to borrow that impact wrench from the neighbor - I don't usually use an impact wrench to tighten bolts unless I really don't want to see them coming off. Those...you don't .

 

[KeithInSpace]

A NICE impact driver. I have a POS for my wheel rotating duties and I can easily out-torque it with a fairly standard ratchet setup...especially if a pipe is involved.

Thanks for the heads up on these particular bolts, though. I'm sure I would have been making a similar post. Hate breaking the pipe out on my pretty tractor.

 

[teachdocs]

Tight bolts indeed.

Come out easier if the transmission is "cold".
Something about expansion when hot.

I used a standard 1/2" Craftsman socket wrench with no problems. No need for a breaker bar or impact wrench.

 

[Hotwheels]

Must be variation in how the bolts are installed at the factory -- I tried to loosen the bolts when the tractor was cold, first thing in the morning before the tractor was started. I may get the impact wrench for the tire rotation and to tighten the bolts.