How to unscrew a stuck bolt (nut). We will analyze the muffler, manifold, caliper, as well as other difficult places. Guide: How to unscrew a rusty bolt? How to loosen a tight bolt

With these tips, you can easily unscrew a rusty bolt or nut!

Is it possible unscrew the problematic bolt or rusty nut without resorting to emergency measures? This question is best owned by motorists. They are the ones most often faced with similar situations and can give useful advice, sharing successful experiences and recipes from their own arsenal of tools. Consider the available options.

Lever arm

This is the first thing you can do if you need to unscrew a rusty nut or a capricious bolt. Used as leverage steel pipe put on the key. On fasteners and around it, you should first thoroughly walk with a brush with a metal bristle. It is better to use a box wrench, but in extreme cases, an open-end wrench is also suitable. Everything must be done carefully. The main thing is not to overdo it. Excessive force is unacceptable, as the result may be a stripped bolt head, licked nut ribs, or a broken wrench.

Chisel

Here we are not talking about simply cutting off a rusty nut or a tight bolt head. With a chisel and one sharp blow of a hammer, stubborn fasteners can be pulled out of the tenacious embrace of rust. To do this, you need to point the chisel closer to the edge of the bolt or nut at an angle in the direction opposite to the thread, and then hit it sharply and strongly with a hammer. By using this technology, experienced craftsmen with one blow, they masterfully rip off any, sometimes the most hopeless nut or bolt. Of course, you still need to grow to such professionalism, but the method works.

tapping

This does not require special skills and deep knowledge in theoretical mechanics the operation can be either a solution to the problem, or preparatory stage to the solution of the problem of loosening a rusty bolt or nut. In any case, two or three sharp blows with a hammer on fasteners through a non-ferrous metal tip will not hurt. Such an action will help destroy oxide layers and greatly facilitate the task.

loosening

Perhaps, in the process of unwinding, a rusty bolt or a naughty nut has already moved along the thread by a couple of microns, but this moment, of course, cannot be noticed. Therefore, you need to try to tighten the fasteners even more and try to loosen again. This technique allows you to destroy oxide formations and, gradually loosening, unwind threaded connection.

warm up

It is worth trying to achieve the desired result by heating capricious fasteners. Everything fits here - gas-burner, soldering iron, pocket lighter. You can even use rags soaked in gasoline or other flammable liquid, but this should be done carefully, observing safety rules. Without waiting for the old nut or rusty bolt head to cool, you need to try to unscrew them. Best of all for these purposes, not an open-end wrench, but a box or socket wrench is suitable. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can try to combine techniques - tap well, loosen, use a lever.

WD-40

“Sprinkle with a Vedashka” is how any garage will respond to a complaint about a problematic bolt or capricious nut. And they will be absolutely right. the best remedy not yet figured out. Its exact recipe remains a mystery, but it is known for certain that the liquid is 50% white spirit. To unscrew the soured fasteners, you first need to open access to the thread by treating the area around the bolt or nut with a metal brush, and then pour the fasteners abundantly with “magic” liquid, spraying it from a can. After 15-20 minutes, you can already try to unscrew. This tool is really effective and almost always helps.

Gasoline, kerosene, turpentine and others

Unfortunately, WD-40 is not always at hand, and buying a spray can because of one rusty nut or bolt is not The best decision in terms of economy. Therefore, it is worth trying something from the products of oil refining - from white spirit to turpentine. All of them have a high penetrating power and are solvents. This property of them will help in case of clogging of the threaded connection with dirt of various nature. The procedure is standard - the place around the fastener is cleaned and filled with kerosene, diesel fuel, gasoline. After 10-15 minutes, when the liquid penetrates deep into the thread, you can try to turn the bolt or nut.

Vinegar

Rusty, unwilling to unscrew the bolt or nut will help to "return to obedience" table vinegar. To do this, the area of \u200b\u200bthe threaded connection must be wetted with vinegar and wait from 15 to 30 minutes. If time is not limited, then you can simply cover the fasteners with a rag soaked in vinegar. In a couple of hours, vinegar will thoroughly undermine rust and weaken the adhesion of mating surfaces in fasteners. After such a “compress”, a rusty bolt or nut at first reluctantly, and then more and more easily succumb to unwinding.

Coca Cola

This is not a joke for people who are far from technology, and not news for specialists. Coca-Cola contains phosphoric acid, which is effectively used in production for degreasing, soldering, cleaning metal surfaces from rust. The procedure is still the same. Fasteners are cleaned and watered with a fashionable "pop". In the meantime, a problematic bolt or nut is getting wet, there is time to think about what kind of muck some of us drink with pleasure, considering it almost an elixir of health.

rust converter

Such products are made on the basis of acids that destroy iron oxide. For their effective application it is better to moisten a piece of rag in the converter, cover the bolt or nut to be unscrewed with it and leave it for several hours. Fasteners before this, it is desirable to degrease well with gasoline, kerosene or some other solvent. The converter “breaks” rust well and the threaded connection is untwisted.

Brake fluid

Fresh or already used - it doesn’t matter, the “brake” helps a lot. It has a high penetrating and lubricating ability, and therefore, if necessary, unscrew a rusty nut or a tight, naughty bolt, it can be safely used. It is better, of course, to moisten brake fluid a piece of rags, cover the soured fasteners and wait an hour or two. During this time, the liquid will seep into the thread and the connection will be easier to unwind.

Alcohol solution of iodine

This is the idea of the usual pharmacy alcohol solution of iodine. In this tandem, alcohol, also known as ethylene, and iodine, as an element of the periodic table, equally distribute the functions of releasing fasteners soured in rust. Alcohol has a high penetrating power, and iodine interacts with iron oxides and other iron compounds formed upon contact with external environment. Thus, these two substances loosen rust, making it easier to free the rusted bolt or nut. In order not to get your hands dirty and for the sake of convenience, it is better to apply iodine to the compound with a syringe.

Why is a rusty nut hard to unscrew?

As a result of the interaction of metal with oxygen in a humid environment, corrosion characteristic of it appears on the material - rust. During its formation, there is a multiple increase in the volume of the oxidation product (the same rust). The nut "swollen" in this way almost tightly merges with the bolt. With a little miscalculation of the forces, you can easily break the bolt, trying to break this alliance.

But rust is far from the only reason a nut won't loosen:

Pollution. If dirt, dust, small metal chips are entangled on the surface of the thread, then this becomes an obstacle to unscrewing the nut and jamming it in one place.
Strong puff. A tightly screwed nut is also the cause of a stalemate. The heavily tightened metal of the surfaces of two parts, a bolt and a nut, sticks to the neighboring one, which leads to the fact that it is very difficult to unscrew the element.
Poor quality tool. The case may be in the same wrench, the edges of which are ground off, deformed or otherwise damaged.

Choosing the Right Tool

To successfully unscrew a rusted nut, you first need to assemble the tools that will help you in this matter:

Throw key.
Socket wrench.
Collared heads.
Mechanical wrench.

Do not try to move a tightly jammed nut with force! Such an impact will only lead to stripping of the thread, cutting off the faceted part, and often even to breakage of the tool. First of all, you need to help the cause with the help of a hex wrench. Open end wrench should not be used.

About safety

Before removing a rusted nut, read these important safety points:

Do not use an instrument that is damaged in any way.
Unscrewing the nut is always carried out counterclockwise.
The tool on the part must be securely fixed.
Use special household gloves to avoid injury.

So, if the nut is rusty, how to unscrew it? We offer you several effective methods.

Method number 1: dissolving rust

How to unscrew a rusted nut? We will not suffer with the tool, wasting our strength in vain. And let's go in search of a substance that will help dissolve rust and reduce friction. Of the most famous, they have proven themselves well:

Special WD-40.
Kerosene.
Brake fluid.
Petrol.
Carburetor cleaner.
Alcohol.
Table vinegar.
"Coca-Cola" and another drink containing inorganic phosphoric acid.

We are sure that at least one of the above was at your fingertips. Further, the algorithm of your actions is simple:

Wet the nut well with the product. Wait about half an hour.
After that, try to carefully unscrew the part with the tool. It didn’t work out - again processing with a substance and wait.
The tool will work better if you soak a rag or napkin in it and wrap it around the nut.
You can then speed up the unscrewing by lightly tapping the part with a hammer.
Another effective way - after exposure to the solution, try to twist the nut with a strong and sharp jerk.
For a small nut, the "rocking" method - back and forth will help.

Method number 2: heating

When the nut is rusted, what will help to unscrew if the previous method is ineffective? Try to heat the part - due to high temperature the metal will begin to expand, thereby destroying the layers of rust. The threaded connection from this, in turn, will lose strength.

What can be used as a heater:

Gas burner.
Lighter.
Building hair dryer.
Blowtorch.

In extreme cases, ordinary boiling water will help you. Be careful: do not use heating in close proximity to wooden or paintwork elements.

The instructions for your actions are as follows:

Heat the nut to a high temperature - preferably red hot.
The next step is to try to unscrew it with a key.
If the nut or bolt thread is damaged, it is necessary to weld the end head to the nut, and then heat up the entire structure. Try turning it off with a wrench.

Method number 3: destruction of the nut

Sometimes the question "How to unscrew a rusted nut?" there is only one answer - to destroy it. It will help you in this matter:

Chisel.
Bulgarian.
Hacksaw for metal.
Electric drill.

And here is the algorithm of actions:

Using a chisel and hammer, prepare grooves along the edges of the nut. The further you drive in the chisel, the larger the diameter of the part increases. The result of this will be the destruction of the connection held on the thread. You will achieve a similar effect by drilling such holes with an electric drill. This case is handy if you have enough room to access the nut.
Another way is to use a grinder or a hacksaw for metal. You need to carefully saw the part along the axis of the bolt connected to it.

Method number 4: twisting

The logic is simple: if the nut cannot be unscrewed in reverse side, then maybe try to move it along the thread in the other direction? As soon as the part succumbs to your efforts, you need to try to slowly but surely turn it in the necessary direction.

Method number 5: tapping the nut

How to unscrew a rusty nut on a faucet? Any plumber will advise you to tap it.

For these purposes, a small 100-gram hammer will serve as an ideal tool:

Apply light blows alternately on each of the faces. Moving in a circle, go through this path several times.
During your actions, microcracks will form in the rusted metal, which will lead to both deformation and destruction of the corrosion layer.

In no case do not try to hit the jammed nut harder! This will not only not speed up the process, but will also lead to deformation of the edges of the element, bending of the bolt, or even breakage of the part that holds this design together.

Method number 6: wax cup

Rusted nut - how to unscrew? Another way: from plasticine or wax, mold a shape resembling a mini-cup. At the same time, its sides in height should be a few millimeters higher than the edges of the nut. Pour sulfuric acid into the "cup" and put a small particle of zinc. You will cause the effect of the so-called galvanic cell: the acid will destroy rust, and the zinc will help the iron cations to recover. As a result, the nut can be unscrewed without damaging the part with acid.

Problem Prevention

In order not to suffer in the future on how to unscrew a rusted nut on a car, bicycle, mixer, when installing this part, do not forget to do the following:

Be sure to treat the thread with grease: graphite, silicone, teflon.
Refuse to use grease and lithol. The fact is that these substances are perfect only for dynamic, moving parts, but not static ones, which include a bolt with a nut. In our case, such a lubricant will only stiffen and, conversely, will interfere with unscrewing.

We hope that you found a suitable method that helped you deal with the problem. Once again, we draw your attention: do not forget about its prevention!

Many people in their lives have faced the task of urgently unscrewing rusty nuts and bolts. And it often happens that the repair itself is very minor, but the fight with the bolt can easily spoil the whole mood. But there are folk ways, with the help of which you can quickly and without nerves solve this problem. Let's find out how to unscrew a rusty bolt at home without special means and tools.

Use the lever

This is the very first thing that comes to mind if you need to unscrew a rusty or soured fastener. As a lever, you can use an ordinary pipe, which is put on the key. Previously, it is better to walk along the bolt itself and around it with a metal brush. To work with a lever, it is better to choose a box wrench, but an open-end wrench will do. You should work carefully. The key can easily slip off and hit your fingers. It is not necessary to apply excessive efforts when unscrewing - one or two powerful short-term jerks are enough. Here the main task is to break the bolt, that is, to destroy the oxides that long time formed in a pair of "bolt - nut". In addition, if you apply excessive force, you can easily lick off the edges of the head, break the key or the bolt itself. And then you definitely cannot do without special heads for torn edges.

Chisel

Here is another effective way to unscrew a rusty bolt at home. But do not think that a hated nut or bolt can be cut down with a chisel. With this tool, you can actually pry the fastener out of the rust holding it. It is necessary to sharply hit the chisel with a hammer. In this case, it is installed to the edge of the bolt at a slight angle. The tool is directed at an angle in the direction opposite to the thread. Next, make a strong and sharp blow with a hammer.

Thus, experienced locksmiths can break even the most complex bolt or nut in a few seconds. Of course, to use this method masterfully, you will need some experience, but this method definitely works.

tapping

Oxides and rust form inside the thread during the operation of the connection. The bolt or nut is literally attached to the thread. If these oxides are destroyed, then even that which should not be unscrewed will be unscrewed.

You will need a spacer for the size of the bolt head or nut. A hammer will also come in handy. With the help of these simple tools, the bolt head is tapped from all sides if possible. You can also hit the head several times. If the oxide layers are not age-old, then this will be enough and the bolt can be unscrewed.

loosening

Before using any methods for unscrewing difficult fasteners, craftsmen try traditionally with the help of wrenches and socket heads unscrew the connection. It is possible that when you try to unscrew the nut or bolt has already moved slightly along the thread, but so slightly that it is not noticeable to the eye.

You can try to loosen the connection. To do this, the key or socket head, on the contrary, they try to tighten the bolt even more, but within reason. Next, try to loosen the bolt. You can hear a characteristic crunch. This means that the oxides have collapsed and you can carefully, slowly, unscrew the bolt or nut.

warming up

Here is another way to unscrew a rusty bolt at home. Its only drawback is that it does not always fit. For example, they can not be used everywhere in the car. But the efficiency of the method is much higher than the previous ones.

The bottom line is to warm up the soured bolt. When heated, the metal expands school course physics. This means that when expanding, the oxides will collapse and the bolt will come out as if the connection is new. For warming up, you can use everything that is at hand: portable gas cylinders, soldering irons, cutting torch, battery and graphite rod. This method differs from all others in that it is effective for tasks such as unscrewing a rusty bolt in a hard-to-reach place. Where you can’t knock, where you can’t moisten the fasteners with chemistry, the flame of a mini-burner will easily get there.

The bolt or nut should be heated to a sufficiently high temperature - it can even be red-hot. Then some locksmiths prefer to cool the heated part with water, while others do not wait until it cools down. In any case, after heating, you can try to unscrew a difficult bolt with a ring wrench or socket head. From the first time, the fasteners may not succumb, but from the second or third it will definitely work. You can use this method in combination with those already described above. But not a single connection has withstood the heating yet: everything spins up, the main thing is to heat it hotter.

WD-40

Let's move on to chemical methods how to unscrew a rusty bolt at home. The first thing that comes to mind is that same VD-40 liquid. And let them say that the liquid is expensive, so far they have not been able to come up with a better one. Manufacturers keep the composition secret, but it is known that about half of the "VD-40" is kerosene. He is able to penetrate into any cracks. By the way, instead of "VD" you can use analogues (for example, from the company "Mannol").

To combat oxides and fasteners, it is enough to splash a bolt or nut abundantly. But first, access to the thread should be provided. Otherwise, the use of liquid will lead to nothing. Literally after 20 minutes, you can try to unscrew the bolt or nut. The element should unscrew with a crack and crunch.

Solvents

Speaking of chemistry, one cannot but say about folk remedies. You can unscrew a rusty bolt using gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, white spirit. A can of WD-40 is quite expensive, and acquiring it for the sake of one harmful bolt is not always wise. Therefore, solvents can be used. All of them have a very high penetrating power and can easily get inside a rusty thread.

So where to start? The place around the fastener is carefully cleaned with a metal brush, then fastener it is abundantly poured with kerosene, gasoline or other chemicals that are at hand. After 15-20 minutes, you can try to turn away.

Acetic essence

Experienced locksmiths shared their experience on how to unscrew a rusty bolt at home or in a garage. The liquid that housewives use in the kitchen comes to the rescue. 70% vinegar essence is a real acid, which means it can defeat rust and oxides.

The place is cleaned with a metal brush, then the rags are abundantly moistened with liquid and the fasteners are covered with this rag. After some time (usually 20 minutes is enough, but may be longer), the bolt will loosen. Hard at first, then easier.

"Coca Cola"

This is not a joke at all, but one of the ways to unscrew rusty nuts and bolts. Everyone knows that the composition of the popular drink contains phosphoric acid. It is used for degreasing and to combat corrosion products. Naturally, it will take more time than with essence or VD-40, but if there is nothing else, then you can try.

Everything is very simple. The surface near the fasteners is abundantly filled with a sweet drink, and then all that remains is to wait. After a few hours, you can try to unscrew.

Brake fluid

And here's how to unscrew a rusty bolt in a car if the car is on the way. Brake fluid will help. It has great penetrating power and can easily get where even kerosene can't. After a few minutes, you can try to unscrew the connection. As practice shows, this is a very effective folk remedy.

How to unscrew the bolt? An article about effective ways with an overview of the tool, the best and non-standard.

In the material, we will consider how to unscrew a torn bolt (with torn edges), a rusted bolt, a crankshaft pulley bolt, wheels, exhaust manifold, cylinder head and other units and assemblies.

How to loosen a bolt

Bolts are usually unscrewed with box or open-end wrenches, screwdrivers, heads using a wrench, ratchet or pneumatic wrench. However, other options are also possible.

Before unscrewing the bolt, from the available tool, you must select the one that fit better Total:

thin short open-end wrenches, especially with a too free (broken) pharynx, are the worst option, which is better to refuse immediately in a situation with unscrewing rusty stuck bolts (this will lead to torn edges);
box wrenches are preferable to open-end wrenches, since they cover the perimeter of the bolt head more tightly;
A 6-point ring wrench or head is preferred over their 12-point versions because the hex has large area pressure on the flat working surfaces of the cap and are less likely to tear off the edges;
a tool with an elongated handle or an additional nozzle is preferable to a short one;
due to its simplicity and strength, a wrench is preferable to a ratchet, because for the latter, the application of increased force may damage the mechanism (this is especially true for ratchets with large quantity teeth, each smaller size and not so strong)
an impact wrench is better than a hand tool;
in combination with a wrench or impact wrench, the best solution would be the Super Lock head, in which the force is applied not to the corners (faces), but to the planes, which eliminates the licking of the edges of the bolt head;
moment amplifier (multiplier) will help to apply a force to a large stuck bolt that exceeds human physical capabilities;
a screwdriver with a large handle of a typical shape or a T-shaped power driver will do a better job than traditional compact versions;
a suitable clamping tool (pipe ("gas"), wrench, clamp, vise, pliers, etc.) will come in handy in the absence of keys or with licked edges;
with sufficient head height, in rare cases, an appropriately sized stud driver can be used.

Further, when describing the methods, we will show how to unscrew the bolt from an atypical tool.

A durable Super Lock head for wheel bolts is worth purchasing and carrying with you in the car at all times, since wheel fasteners often get damaged during seasonal tire changes and can cause serious difficulties for the car owner on the road in the event of a puncture.

Which way to unscrew the bolt

Most often, bolts with the right thread direction are used: they need to be unscrewed counterclockwise (we look at the bolt from the side of the cap). Unscrew the bolt with left-hand thread clockwise.

When deciding which way to unscrew the bolt, just look at it carefully:

on the side you can see the inclination of the threads of the bolt at a small angle - unscrew the bolt in the direction in which the thread "rises";
even if the threaded one is not visible, you can determine the direction along the end of the nut (or through the threaded channel in which the bolt sits) at the exit point of the last turn of its internal thread.

In the absence of visible signs, when only a hat tightly pressed to the surface of the part is visible, it is better to start unscrewing counterclockwise, if there is no result, then try against it.

How to unscrew a broken bolt

A bolt with torn edges can be unscrewed in several main ways:
·

use the Super Lock head, which acts on planes, not on edges;
clamp the broken bolt in a pipe wrench (in a vice, clamp, pliers, etc.) and unscrew it;
make a cut in the head and unscrew with a powerful screwdriver;
combine the two previous methods, using both a clamping tool and a screwdriver, which will allow you to apply the force of two hands;
turn a smaller hat on a turnkey basis;
apply special tool- extractor (similar to a tap, the working part is conical, the direction of the thread is opposite to the thread of the stud): drill a hole in the center desired diameter and a depth of approximately 2/3 of the length of the working part of the extractor, insert the extractor and rotate with force until the bolt is unscrewed;
drill a hole in the center of the cap no deeper than the height of the cap, drive a TORX nozzle (E-profile, or another similar one with longitudinal ribs) into it and unscrew the nozzle shank;
hammer a suitable nut on top of the bolt head with licked edges bigger size, the inner diameter of which allows you to put it in an interference fit, for additional fixation, drill a recess in the contact zone of the nuts, insert a suitable metal rod there as a key to prevent rotation, unscrew the bolt using a tool that fits the size of the nut of a larger diameter;
put on a nut of a larger diameter and weld it to the bolt head semi-automatic welding, unscrew the large nut together with the bolt welded to it.

As you can see, unscrewing a bolt with torn edges is not so difficult.

How to unscrew a broken bolt

Information on how to unscrew a broken bolt that does not have a head can be obtained from the article "How to unscrew the stud: 25 effective ways and techniques”, which is located in the “Useful” section of the site.

How to loosen a rusted bolt

Unscrewing a rusty bolt is easier if you have access to the threaded part. As a rule, there is such an opportunity from the side of the end on which the nut is screwed (the bolt passes through the fastened parts), less often - from the side of the cap, when it does not fit snugly against the fastened surface. You need to act as follows:
·

accessible threads must be thoroughly cleaned of rust with a wire brush, remove contamination;
apply the penetrating compound WD-40, “Liquid Key” and their analogues to the thread (so that the applied compound flows from top to bottom into the area of the rusty bolt thread sticking), let the compound work for 20 minutes, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer of the product;
using the available tool, apply force in the direction of unscrewing;
if the bolt does not give in, then apply the pacing method, alternately applying force to both twisting and twisting;
if these actions did not lead to positive result then apply soaking in a penetrating or chemically active preparation against rust for a long time.

How to unscrew a bolt with soaking

The essence of the method is the exposure of the rusty threaded part of the bolt to a penetrating or chemically active composition in relation to rust for a sufficient time for a long time.

Main methods:

Moisten abundantly rusty fasteners in the thread area active agent, wrap the accessible threaded shank of the bolt with a rag soaked in this agent or put it on top (so that the chemistry flows down the thread from top to bottom), close tightly to prevent drying, if necessary, adding fresh agent every few hours;
dip the fasteners into the chemistry completely, using its large volume in a suitable container.

As a means for soaking rusty fasteners, you can use:

special penetrating compounds WD-40, "Liquid key" and analogues;
kerosene, gasoline, carburetor cleaner, lock defroster, brake fluid and others, from a garage stock;
rust converter;
compositions chemically active in relation to rust - table vinegar, iodine, Coca-Cola, etc.

How to loosen a stuck bolt

Before unscrewing the stuck bolt, it is necessary to perform preparatory steps that can make things easier:

hit the head with a hammer along the axis of the bolt;
apply rocking tapping with a hammer on the side working planes around the circumference of the bolt head;
if possible, heat the fastened part in the area of the threaded channel and try to unscrew it hot (if it didn’t help the first time, then repeat the heating several times).

In the latter case, you can use matches, a wax candle, a lighter, a burner from gas spray, blowtorch or gas cutter (the latter is extremely careful, at a sufficient distance so as not to damage the part).

To unscrew a bolt that does not want to unscrew, stuck, you can use a penetrating lubricant in combination with other methods of increasing the force.

How to unscrew a bolt without a screwdriver

If the bolt head is for a screwdriver, but it is not at hand, then the following options are possible:

clamp the bolt head in a vice, pliers, clamping pliers or other similar tool with a bit from the existing set;
if there is no cross or other curly bit, then use the method with cutting the cap under a flat screwdriver or turning the head on a turnkey basis (turn the opposite sides of the cap with a file, burr or grinder until parallel planes of sufficient area are formed);
in the absence of a flat screwdriver or bit, use any suitable or specially sized object made of hardened steel - clamped in the tool listed above, it will act as a screwdriver sting;
with a massive bolt head, methods can be used with fastening by welding or on the key of a large nut, or in another suitable way from those described above.

How and how to unscrew the bolt for an asterisk or hexagon without a key

Often a bolt for an asterisk or a hexagon has round shape heads. How and how to unscrew the bolt without a key? You can consider any of suitable ways, which were indicated above, for loosening bolts with torn edges.

How to unscrew a hard-to-reach bolt

Before unscrewing a hard-to-reach bolt, you need to prepare a special tool:

wrench or ratchet with a short handle;
ratchet with a large number of teeth in the mechanism (gives a small angle of rotation, which is important in cramped conditions);
extensions to the heads;
gimbals;
flexible drives for heads.

If you plan to work regularly with hard-to-reach fasteners, then it is better to buy the listed tool, as part of a set or individually for actual tasks. For a single use, you can ask for the necessary time.

Conclusion

Before unscrewing the bolt, it is necessary to clean the threaded part of rust and dirt, apply a penetrating or chemically active composition against rust, choose from the available tool what is suitable the best way and only after that make an effort.

Using excessive force and using the wrong tool will most likely result in damage to the bolt head, breakage of the bolt or tool.

When considering how to unscrew a bolt, immediately choose the most effective and reliable solution available.

Unscrewing a rusty bolt or nut can be pretty nerve-wracking.

A person who has never faced the problem of how to unscrew a rusty soured bolt or a tightly stuck nut cannot even convey how much time, effort and nerves this sometimes seemingly hopeless task can take. Sometimes they just give up, and the only way out is seen only as a “Bulgarian”, which allows, albeit radically, but quickly to resolve the issue. But often even she is not able to help and threatens to only aggravate the situation, creating problems of a different kind.

So is it possible unscrew the problematic bolt or rusty nut without resorting to emergency measures? This question is best owned by motorists. It is they who most often encounter similar situations and can give good advice by sharing their successful experience and recipes from their own arsenal of tools. Consider the available options.

Lever arm

This is the first thing you can do if you need to unscrew a rusty nut or a capricious bolt. As a lever device, a steel pipe is used, which is put on the key. On fasteners and around it, you should first thoroughly walk with a brush with a metal bristle. It is better to use a box wrench, but in extreme cases, an open-end wrench is also suitable. Everything must be done carefully. The main thing is not to overdo it. Excessive force is unacceptable, as the result may be a stripped bolt head, licked nut ribs, or a broken wrench.

Chisel

Here we are not talking about simply cutting off a rusty nut or a tight bolt head. With a chisel and one sharp blow of a hammer, stubborn fasteners can be pulled out of the tenacious embrace of rust. To do this, you need to point the chisel closer to the edge of the bolt or nut at an angle in the direction opposite to the thread, and then hit it sharply and strongly with a hammer. Using this technology, experienced craftsmen skillfully rip off any, sometimes the most hopeless nut or bolt with one blow. Of course, you still need to grow to such professionalism, but the method works.

tapping

This operation, which does not require special skills and deep knowledge in theoretical mechanics, can either be a solution to the problem or a preparatory stage for solving the problem of unscrewing a rusty bolt or nut. In any case, two or three sharp blows with a hammer on fasteners through a non-ferrous metal tip will not hurt. Such an action will help destroy oxide layers and greatly facilitate the task.

loosening

warm up

It is worth trying to achieve the desired result by heating capricious fasteners. Everything is suitable here - a gas burner, a soldering iron, a pocket lighter. You can even use rags soaked in gasoline or other flammable liquid, but this should be done carefully, observing safety rules. Without waiting for the old nut or rusty bolt head to cool, you need to try to unscrew them. Best of all for these purposes, not an open-end wrench, but a box or socket wrench is suitable. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can try to combine techniques - tap well, loosen, use a lever.

WD-40

“Sprinkle with a Vedashka” is how any garage will respond to a complaint about a problematic bolt or capricious nut. And they will be absolutely right. The best means has not yet been invented. Its exact recipe remains a mystery, but it is known for certain that the liquid is 50% white spirit. To unscrew the soured fasteners, you first need to open access to the thread by treating the area around the bolt or nut with a metal brush, and then pour the fasteners abundantly with “magic” liquid, spraying it from a can. After 15-20 minutes, you can already try to unscrew. This tool is really effective and almost always helps.

Gasoline, kerosene, turpentine and others

Unfortunately, it is not always at hand, and buying a can because of one rusty nut or bolt is not the best solution in terms of economy. Therefore, it is worth trying something from the products of oil refining - from white spirit to turpentine. All of them have a high penetrating power and are solvents. This property of them will help in case of clogging of the threaded connection with dirt of various nature. The procedure is standard - the place around the fastener is cleaned and filled with kerosene, diesel fuel, gasoline. After 10-15 minutes, when the liquid penetrates deep into the thread, you can try to turn the bolt or nut.

Vinegar

A rusted, unwilling to unscrew bolt or nut will help "return to obedience". To do this, the area of \u200b\u200bthe threaded connection must be wetted with vinegar and wait from 15 to 30 minutes. If time is not limited, then you can simply cover the fasteners with a rag soaked in vinegar. In a couple of hours, vinegar will thoroughly undermine rust and weaken the adhesion of mating surfaces in fasteners. After such a “compress”, a rusty bolt or nut at first reluctantly, and then more and more easily succumb to unwinding.

Coca Cola

This is not a joke for people who are far from technology, and not news for specialists. It contains phosphoric acid, which is effectively used in production for degreasing, soldering,. The procedure is still the same. Fasteners are cleaned and watered with a fashionable "pop". In the meantime, a problematic bolt or nut is getting wet, there is time to think about what kind of muck some of us drink with pleasure, considering it almost an elixir of health.

rust converter

Such products are made on the basis of acids that destroy iron oxide. For their effective use, it is better to moisten a piece of rag in the converter, cover it with an unscrewed bolt or nut and leave it for several hours. Fasteners before this, it is desirable to degrease well with gasoline, kerosene or some other solvent. The converter “breaks” rust well and the threaded connection is untwisted.

Brake fluid

Fresh or already used - it doesn’t matter, the “brake” helps a lot. It has a high penetrating and lubricating ability, and therefore, if necessary, unscrew a rusty nut or a tight, naughty bolt, it can be safely used. It is better, of course, to moisten a piece of rag with brake fluid, cover the soured fasteners and wait an hour or two. During this time, the liquid will seep into the thread and the connection will be easier to unwind.

Alcohol solution of iodine

This is the idea of the usual pharmacy alcohol solution of iodine. In this tandem, alcohol, also known as ethylene, and iodine, as an element of the periodic table, equally distribute the functions of releasing fasteners soured in rust. Alcohol has a high penetrating power, and iodine interacts with iron oxides and other iron compounds formed upon contact with the external environment. Thus, these two substances loosen rust, making it easier to free the rusted bolt or nut. In order not to get your hands dirty and for the sake of convenience, it is better to apply iodine to the compound with a syringe.

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