How to Loosen Bolts With a Torque Wrench: Step by Step
- Inspect the wrench for any damages
- Unlock the wrench
- Adjust the direction (counter-clockwise)
- Double check the required torque range
- Set the wrench (from low to high)
- Lock the wrench
- Fit the appropriate socket to the end of the wrench
- Place it into the targeted bolt
- Turn the handle in a counter-clockwise direction
How can I untighten a really tight bolt?
Method 4 of 4: Destroying a Stuck Bolt
- Handyman Expert Interview. 20 August 2020. ...
- Handyman Expert Interview. 20 August 2020. ...
- Remove the drilled bolt with a box wrench. If the screw extractor doesn’t remove the stuck bolt itself, pull the bolt out with a wrench.
- Cut the screw off with a reciprocating saw if nothing else works. ...
How do you loosen a tight screw?
The Elements/Weather
- Using a blowdryer at the highest setting, turn it on in the location where the screws are stuck
- The wood’s pores will open up as it gets hotter
- As the wood’s pores are loosening, you’ll need to have your screwdriver handy to remove the screws
How do you tighten a bolt?
- Insert the long end of various hex-key wrenches into the hexagonal slot of a hex screw until you find a wrench that fits into the slot.
- Check the fit of the key wrench by turning it slightly to either side with gentle pressure.
- Turn the hex-key wrench in a counterclockwise direction to loosen the fastener.
How to prevent bolts from loosening?
- Spring washers prevent looseness: After the spring washers are assembled, the washers are flattened. ...
- Anti-loosening of the top nut: The use of the nut top action causes the bolt type to be subjected to additional tension and additional friction. ...
- Self-locking nut anti-loose: one end of the nut made of non-circular shut. ...
How to tighten a bolt?
How to make a bolt not spin when trying to loosen it?
What is the right hand thread on a screw?
Which way do clock hands move?
Which way do you turn a threaded fastener?
Can you rotate a spacecraft by turning the bolt?
Is a screw right handed or left handed?
See more
About this website
Which way do I turn a bolt to loosen it?
Most standard screws, bolts or nuts are unscrewed by turning them anti-clockwise, as shown in the image below. A good way to remember this is to try and commit to memory the phrase that all junior mechanics learn – righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Do you turn a bolt clockwise to tighten it?
While today screws come in standard sizes, and typically are tightened by turning clockwise (and loosened by turning counterclockwise), this is a recent invention.
In what direction do you turn a nut onto a bolt to tighten it?
Then I learned the right-hand rule. It works for standard threads, where you turn clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen. First, point your right thumb in the direction you want the nut or bolt to travel.
Do you turn left or right to tighten?
0:361:26How To Easily Remember Which Way To Tighten Or Loosen Nuts Or ScrewsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay lefty loosey righty tighty.MoreOkay lefty loosey righty tighty.
Is clockwise or counterclockwise to loosen?
Shop-work. Typical nuts, screws, bolts, bottle caps, and jar lids are tightened (moved away from the observer) clockwise and loosened (moved towards the observer) counterclockwise in accordance with the right-hand rule.
What direction do you turn pipes to loosen them? - Answers
What direction do you turn a screw to loosen? It depends on the "handedness" of the thread of the screw. Most screws have right-handed threads that in order to loosen the screw, the screw is ...
What do you need to loosen small nuts and bolts?
An impact driver and a set of high-end hex-shaft nut drivers are all you need to loosen small nuts and bolts. For larger nuts and bolts, you'll need an impact gun and a set of six-point, impact-rated (black finish) sockets. Ordinary chrome sockets can't handle impact work and may crack or shatter under the stress.
What to use for big stuck bolts?
When you're dealing with really big stuck bolts, a pipe wrench might be your best option, especially if you don't own a giant set of wrenches or sockets. The long handle and aggressive jaw teeth will loosen the most stubborn bolts. Just make sure you get the jaws tight against the shoulders.
How to fix rust penetrant?
If rust penetrant alone doesn't work, create micro cracks in the rust with blows from a hammer, or even better, an air chisel and hammer bit. Then apply more rust penetrant and ”reshock“ the bolt head. Repeat until you can turn the bolt.
What does offset mean on a wrench?
That offset means sockets are likelier to slip off heads and round over shoulders. Fit the closed end of the wrench over the bolt head and try tugging in short pulses, instead of a full-throttle pull. That'll help loosen rust-bonded surfaces.
What happens when you give a stuck bolt?
Right when you're giving a stuck bolt all your muscle, wrenches will slip, bolt heads will snap off and your hands will get smashed against something sharp. So always wear gloves and try to orient tool handles so your hands will be clear if a tool slips.
How to get a bolt head to not turn red?
Heat for about 15 seconds, but don't get it cherry red. Then spray the bolt head with water to cool it quickly. Continue spraying until it no longer steams.
What is a Vise grip plier?
Lock on to Wrecked Heads. These pliers are best known by the brand name Vise-Grip. Whatever brand you have, they'll get you out of a jam when bolt and nut shoulders are rounded, or when screw slots or Phillips crosses are stripped out. Rounded jaws work best.
How to prevent loose bolts?
Here are five basic types of prevention methods: Washers. Washers are typically wider than the bolt head, with the additional surface area adding extra friction to the joint to maintain the clamp force. ...
Why are my bolts loose?
By definition, an under-tightened bolt is already loose and the joint does not have enough clamp force to hold the individual sections together.
What is wedge in bolting?
The wedges are designed to add tension (stretch) to the bolted joint if the bolt begins turning due to vibration or shock, preventing a loss of clamp force. Castellated nuts. Mechanical devices. Numerous clever gimmicks have been developed to lock a tightened nut into place on a bolted joint.
Why is it important to select a bolt retention device?
Selecting an appropriate bolt retention device is essential to prevent loosening of bolts and maintaining proper preload. For example, wedge-locking washers help maintain preload by not allowing the bolt to self-rotate.
What causes a bolt to move in parallel with the other?
Vibration. Experiments on bolted joints under vibration show that many small “transverse” movements cause the two sections of the joint to move in parallel with each other and with the bolt head or nut. These repeated movements work against the friction between the bolt and joint threads that is holding the joint together.
What causes a bolt to unwind?
Eventually, vibration will cause the bolt to “unwind” from the mating threads and the joint to lose its clamp force. Embedding. The design engineers who specify the tension on a bolt allow for a break-in period, during which bolt tightness relaxes to a certain degree.
What happens if a bolt comes loose?
If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance. If the joint is not quickly retightened, the application may begin to leak fluid or gas, the bolt may break, equipment may become damaged, or catastrophic accidents may occur. There are at least five causes of loose bolts, ...
Step 1
Clean around the bolt with a wire brush, removing as much external buildup as possible.
Step 2
Try loosening the bolt with a wrench. If the bolt won't turn, try tightening it and then loosening it. The back-and-forth action might jar it loose.
Step 3
Gently tap the wrench with a tool such as a a small hammer or chisel, and try loosening it with a wrench again.
Step 4
Use a propane torch to heat the bolt. Heat an average-size bolt for approximately a minute--longer for larger bolts.
Step 5
Allow the bolt to cool to the point where it can be touched with a finger.
Step 6
Squirt (or spray) penetrating oil around the bolt. Let the oil soak in for at least an hour. The longer it soaks in, the better.
Step 7
Tap the bolt again with a hammer or chisel to help loosen it, and further allow the oil to seep in. Loosen the bolt with a wrench.
What to do if a bolt and nut are spinning together?
If the bolt and nut are spinning together, it’s time to crack the bad nut. Get a nut splitter from your local hardware store, or you can easily buy one online, and break the nut. Be careful not to apply so much pressure that you damage your work surface.
How to avoid spinning bolts?
Before drilling, blow, or use a tiny piece of cloth to clean the hole out completely. Make sure you use the right drill bit and drill straight. Holding the drill at an angle will secure the bolt in place.
Why isn't my bolt spinning?
However, your bolt isn’t spinning because you have managed to over tighten it. This too can be harmful to whatever project you are doing. When you over tighten or over-torque a bolt you could strip the bolt or even snap the screw heads.
Why does a bolt spin in place?
The bolt may spin in place due to a few different reasons: A hole with specks of dust can prevent the bolt from staying in place. It acts as a lubricant. Another reason may be that you have the wrong-sized bolt. Both over and under-sized bolts are going to keep spinning.
Can you overtighten a bolt?
Are Your Bolts Stripped? Let us just start off by pointing out that it is possible to overtighten your bolt. Overtightening will cause its strings to be bent out of shape and the bolt will never tighten. If your bolt is spinning, you will need to check if your bolt is stripped or your nut.
Can you tighten a spinning bolt?
Although it might seem like the spinning bolt won’t tighten, it’s not impossible. Sometimes, the problem is quite simple and just tightening the bolt further or drilling a bit deeper will get the job done. Other times, you’ll have to remove/ break the bolt (and maybe even the nut) and start from scratch.
How to prevent loose bolts?
Here are five basic types of prevention methods: Washers. Washers are typically wider than the bolt head, with the additional surface area adding extra friction to the joint to maintain the clamp force. ...
Why are my bolts loose?
By definition, an under-tightened bolt is already loose and the joint does not have enough clamp force to hold the individual sections together.
What is a lock nut?
Nylon or metal inserts inside a nut (sometimes called a “lock nut”) can add extra friction to prevent loosening. A related idea is to fit a spring inside the nut, which firmly grasps the bolt threads and is designed to move in the opposite direction of the nut if vibration or other forces cause it to unwind.
What is wedge in bolting?
The wedges are designed to add tension (stretch) to the bolted joint if the bolt begins turning due to vibration or shock, preventing a loss of clamp force. Castellated nuts. Mechanical devices. Numerous clever gimmicks have been developed to lock a tightened nut into place on a bolted joint.
What is the purpose of a gasket on a bolt?
Many bolted joints include a thin, flexible gasket between the bolt head and the surface of the joint to seal the joint completely against gas or liquid leaks . The gasket itself acts as a spring, pushing back against the pressure of the bolt and the joint face.
What causes a bolt to unwind?
Eventually, vibration will cause the bolt to “unwind” from the mating threads and the joint to lose its clamp force. Embedding. The design engineers who specify the tension on a bolt allow for a break-in period, during which bolt tightness relaxes to a certain degree.
Why is it important to select a bolt retention device?
Selecting an appropriate bolt retention device is essential to prevent loosening of bolts and maintaining proper preload. For example, wedge-locking washers help maintain preload by not allowing the bolt to self-rotate.
How to fix a bolt head that is rounded?
Use locking pliers to grip the fastener. When a bolt head has become so rounded that a wrench won’t get a bite, use locking pliers. Get a tight grip: You may have only two or three chances before the head gets so rounded that even this won’t work. Use penetrating oil, heat and tapping if it slips after your first try.
How to unstick a bolt?
Use heat first. Heat, oil and tapping will unstick most nuts and bolts in metal. Apply only enough heat to cause expansion in the entire bolt—about a minute or so for the average-size bolt. Then use oil and a hammer to loosen. When the bolt is cool enough to touch, squirt penetrating oil (it comes in a spray can or squirt bottle) ...
How to loosen threads on a screwdriver?
First select the largest screwdriver that’ll fit, and tap the butt of the screwdriver handle with a hammer to loosen the thread bond. Lean your weight onto the screwdriver to keep it in the slot as you turn it with the wrench. Careful—too much torque will bend the screwdriver tip.
How to get oil out of a bolt?
Tap the end of the bolt a half-dozen times with a hammer to help loosen the threads and allow the oil to penetrate. Wait another minute or so for the oil to work, and then use your wrench.
How to crack a no turn nut?
Just slip the ring over the nut and turn the tooth into the nut until it breaks.
How to gain leverage on a bolt?
Use a short pipe to gain leverage. Be a cheater by slipping a short length of pipe—a cheater bar—over the end of your tool handle . The extra length gives you much better leverage. Be careful, though, not to use so much force that you break the tool (voiding the tool warranty) or break the head off the shank of the bolt.
How to get a grip on a carriage bolt?
For big screws, put two blades in your hacksaw, right next to each other, and cut a wider slot so you can use a big screwdriver. This is also a great way to get a grip on the head of a stuck carriage bolt, which has no slot or flats.
How to tighten a bolt?
Get a pair of pliers, ensure they are big enough to clamp the bolt. Grip the handles and turn anti clockwise. If your Bolt is too tight for any of these methods, Than Perhaps it’s time just to get a wrench ( they are fairly Inexpensive and you will find a lot of use for it in future as well!)
How to loosen a bolt that has a flat head?
Hold onto the excess length of the bolt and turn anti-clockwise to loosen the bolt. Note: should you not have a bolt that has a flat head on the bottom on your nut and bolt assembly, it is best to use two nuts instead to ‘clamp’ in between the bolt you are trying to loosen.
How to tie a bolt head?
The longer the better as it will allow you to get a better grip of it. Wrap the tie around the bolt and zip the cable up tightly. Now wrap some of the excess tie around your fingers and pull the tie around ...
What size bolts can be loosened?
The following will use various common household items you may have which will allow you to loosen an average to large sized bolt (M8 or bigger).
Do you have to hold onto a bolt to loosen a nut?
You will not be required to hold onto the bolt, unless you find as you try to loosen the nut, the bolt turns as well, you will need to hold onto the bolt with something to counteract the rotation which will allow you to loosen the nut properly.
Can you loosen a bolt with a wrench?
Should you have a wrench, but it is too big, it is possible to loosen a smaller sized bolt using the wrench you already have. You will just need some coins (depending on how much bigger your wrench is). Simply use the coins to fill the gap in between the wrench and the bolt, hold the coins steady and rotate.
Can you loosen a hexagonal bolt without a wrench?
If you are unequipped with no wrench (also known as spanner) and you have a hexagonal bolt whether it’s small, tight or big, that needs to be loosened but cannot be done by hand, there are various methods to help do this by using different household items! Additionally, hacks and tips for loosening nuts and tightening bolts without a wrench ...
How to tighten a bolt?
Use your right hand. Your thumb points in the direction to tighten the screw. Understand that this did not happen arbitrarily. Most people have a stronger right hand then left hand, and so you can more easily tighten a nut or bolt with your right hand, screwing it clockwise. Likewise, that’s probably why a clock’s hands move in a clockwise ...
How to make a bolt not spin when trying to loosen it?
If the bolt is in a pre-tapped hole, simply find the appropriate drive style tool and remove it by turning it to the left (again assuming its not a left hand threaded bolt).
What is the right hand thread on a screw?
While the vast majority of screw systems are ‘right-hand threads’ (i.e., tight when turned clockwise), there are left-hand threads. Look at any turnbuckle. It has a left-hand and right-hand thread in a single housing.
Which way do clock hands move?
Likewise, that’s probably why a clock’s hands move in a clockwise direction. That’s the “natural” direction for a right handed person. Likewise, the same direction applies to writing with your right hand, without smearing the ink. Your right hand wants to turn to the right. 53K views.
Which way do you turn a threaded fastener?
Usually clockwise. If reaching around behind, I use the right hand rule. You turn the fastener in the direction your curled fingers point and it will move in the direction indicated by your thumb. Of course you must use your right hand! Unless you are dealing with rare left hand threaded fasteners.
Can you rotate a spacecraft by turning the bolt?
However, turning the bolt wouldn’t cause the spacecraft to rotate.
Is a screw right handed or left handed?
Most screws are “right handed” , at least in the US. Many mechanics use the phrase “Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey” to help remember which way to turn them Left handed screws often hve a double line near the head to identify them. A left handed screw would be just the opposite.