Nut splitters . . .

[Nicola&Tony]

Are they any good or a waste of money? I've got a 10mm nylon lock nut which is on a long bolt that's gone rusty. I got it most of the way down the bolt and then it seized not far from the end. Now it won't move in either direction and I can't get at it with the angle grinder.

Wondering whether to buy some nut splitters or have a go with the blow torch. Looking for the easiest solution 'cos this could happen a few more times as I'm trying to remove all the wheelchair tracking out of the floor of our lt (so the nut in question is underneath the van).

Grateful for any info or advice.

Tony

p.s. already tried to drill the heads off the bolts (via 0.5mm steps) and all this does is ruin expensive drill bits at an alarming rate!

[kevtherev]

if you can get heat to it safely ... that's what I would do

[lloydy]

Hacksaw most of the way through in two places, put a flat head screwdriver in cut and twist. I find that the easiest

[Oldiebut goodie]

Can you get the angle grinder to it so that you cut down the length of the bolt and so cut the nut in half? Or do the same from the other end and wring the head off.

[dansimpson]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Bolt-Grip ... B0000CCXVZ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Once these get hold it'll either come off, or snap off (unless you are using a cheepy socket wrench - cos that could break too!)
Tried and tested on lots of rusty nuts on a very rusty Rover 214, never failed.

[Nicola&Tony]

Thanks for the feedback

There's no way of getting a hacksaw at the nut because it's about 10mm below the floor of the van, in a tight corner that's formed by two chassis rails. I don't think there's enough movement on the bolt to get the head above the wheelchair tracking but I'll have a look at that option first, as chopping the head off with the angle grinder inside the van would be nice and quick.

The Irwin Bolt Grips look like they'd be a better investment than a set of nut splitters.

Tony

[BigTam]

Give me a shout mate if you need a hand, I would go for the heat and a big "frell" off breaking bar

[kevtherev]

yep cherry red it'll go

[Ian Hulley]

I have a set of nut splitters I could post up (with your filters) if you want. Last used on the top shocker nut on the front of the bus .... nut locked, shaft turning gave it some PAIN with the splitter et voila.

Ian

[Nicola&Tony]

Just a bit of an update on this after spending most of the weekend scrabbling around on my back under the van. The heat (and help from Big Tam and Nicola) did the trick on most of the stubborn nuts. One still refused to move but fortunately I could get at this one with the angle grinder.

Never seen so much wheelchair tracking in one vehicle. Reckon I've removed about two thirds of the bolts now but I've still got another 37 to go (and the fuel tank will have to be dropped to get at those). Already had to remove the exhaust and a load of tinware to get at the bolts that I've been working on over the weekend, so all that stuff needs fixing back on again.

Tony

[jamesc76]

The Irwin Bolt Grips look like they'd be a better investment than a set of nut splitters.

Tony

I have both! tho the irwins are ace!

[BigTam]

Who needs nut splitters and Irwins when you have a cold chisel, big fooook off hammer and a badly bruised thumb, ouch