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why does heating a bolt help remove it

by Hester Harvey Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

For stubborn bolts, heat the bolt, then move the flame away and apply WD-40 against the heated bolt threads. The melting wax pulls itself into the threads to create a slippery surface. Keep open flames away from fuel and brake lines, rubber fittings and other flammable parts and materials.

Full Answer

What effect does heating have on bolts?

My perception of the effect of heating is that not only do the bolt and the nut or block expand, but also the space between them expands as well, dont' forget about that. slightly larger space between as well, easier to remove.

Why does heat remove rust from bolts?

In some other instances the reason heat works is that the bolt was applied with a threadlocker that requires heating to remove (if it comes out with no sign of rust, that's a pretty good bet) Many forms of rust contain "chemically bound water" and will lose that water (and shrink) when heated sufficiently. Show activity on this post.

Why do bolts turn off when they are too tight?

I've got a simple answer that no one has said the head of the bolt expands off the surface loosening the tension off the threads thus making it loose enough to turn off. Sometimes bolts are too tight even when they are not rusted. Show activity on this post.

Why doesn't a bolt expand inside the hole?

Since the shaft of the bolt is constrained, it can't expand inside the hole. The bolt expands in the direction of the green arrow, but cannot expand in the direction of the red arrows. As the bolt cools, it contracts.

Why does heat work on a bolt?

Why does a bolt cool faster than a nut?

What direction does a bolt expand?

Why is it bad to lock up the brakes on a car?

Can you heat a frozen bolt?

Does metal expand when heated?

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Why do you heat a bolt to remove?

When you heat something, you are adding kinetic energy to the system. This is literally causing the molecules of the bolt to move more and more quickly. In a solid, the molecules are not moving freely in space and essentially vibrate.

Will heat loosen a rusted bolt?

Another method to loosen a rusted nut and bolt is to use a heat torch on low or moderate heat. Heat will allow the rusted nuts and screws to expand so that they can be loosened.

Why is it important that we heat the nut quickly when attempting to remove a seized or tight nut from a stud or bolt?

When heat is applied to a nut, try to focus the heat on the nut and not the bolt. This will allow the nut to grow slightly larger expanding itself away from the threads of the bolt. If heat fails to solve the problem, an air-powered impact wrench is a great way to break seized hardware free.

Why does heating rusted bolts work?

Heating the bolt will help to break the Loctite, corrosion or whatever bond is holding the bolt from turning. I get them pretty hot, enough to burn up the Loctite and turn rust into whatever it turns into when it gets real hot.

How do you remove a bolt with heat?

Turn on your torch and aim the flame directly at the bolt head. Move the flame in a circle around the bolt for 30 seconds. Use a socket wrench to rock the bolt back and forth until it loosens enough to be removed. The bolt is stubborn, repeat steps 2 and 3.

How do you loosen a bolt that won't budge?

0:032:50How To Remove a Stuck Nut or Bolt - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse a 6-sided wrench or socket. If the bolt still won't break free consider using a tool extender toMoreUse a 6-sided wrench or socket. If the bolt still won't break free consider using a tool extender to added torque just be careful not to break off the head of the bolt.

Should the Assembly be heated or cooled to make it easier to remove the nut?

Use heat first Heat, oil and tapping will unstick most nuts and bolts in metal.

How do you remove a rusted bolt without heat?

You can try the following:Use a lubricant to loosen the bolt and then remove it with a wrench.Use a clamp to cut the fastener's head and help remove it from its position.Use an impact hammer or wrench to forcefully remove the bolt.

How do you remove a rusted bolt without breaking it?

5 tips for loosening rusted, corroded, and stubborn nuts and boltsTip #1: Scrape away excess rust. ... Tip #2: Soak the threads with Deep Creep. ... Tip #3: Add extra torque. ... Tip #4: Apply heat. ... Tip #5: Use an impact tool. ... Remove even the most stubborn fasteners with Deep Creep.

Does heating a screw make it easier to remove?

Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily.

Does heating metal make it expand?

When a material is heated, the increase in energy causes the atoms and molecules to move more and to take up more space— that is, to expand. This is true of even a solid such as a metal.

Does metal shrink when heated?

Metal expands when heated. Length, surface area and volume will increase with temperature.

If heat expands metal, then why do nuts and bolts come loose when a ...

Answer (1 of 9): Good question. Imagine the 5/8″ (or similar metric size) stud that holds the bottom of your SUV’s rear shock absorbers to the frame. It has a nut with a 5/8″ hole screwed on to retain the shock. The nut and stud are rusty from years of getting splattered with road salt during Ne...

How does heat loosen rusted bolts? - AskingLot.com

Click to see full answer. Also question is, will heating up a bolt loosen it? Heat everything, cool the stuff you want to shrink, remove stuck nut/bolt.A fastener is not freed just by heating it. As in, you can't make it glow, then walk away for an hour, and expect it to turn when you come back.The parts will only turn when they're hot. ...

Here's How To Remove A Broken Bolt Without Losing Your Mind

If you’ve worked on an older car for more than five minutes, you’ll know what it is to give a bolt your all with a lefty-loosey, and the head snaps off as if it was the tightiest of righties.

How to Remove Stuck Rusted Frozen Bolt by Heating With a Torch - 1A Auto

Created on: 2010-06-08 Watch this video for some tips on how to remove stubborn, stuck bolts by applying heat, using a torch.

Best gas torch/blow torch for removing rusted nuts/bolts

Never tried this myself, but there are a few YouTube videos demonstrating heat from a torch being applied to, say, the left hand side of a seized nut, and once heated (doesn't seem to be glowing ...

How to loosen a bolt?

Using a flame to loosen the bolt. Matt Wright. Now heat the bolt and nut. Put the flame directly over the stuck part, or the part you can get to safely. Heat it for 30 seconds or so and it should free up easily. If it doesn't, repeat the process to see if that helps. Repeated heating and cooling sometimes does the trick.

What happens if you don't close the propane valve?

If you neglect to close the valve, you'll start to lose gas as soon as you screw it on. Otherwise, don't worry about leaking propane. The tank will remain sealed until the nozzle is all the way on. At most, you may catch a whiff of gas in the air.

How to adjust propane torch?

A nice, clean propane flame. Once your torch is lit, adjust the flame using the adjustment dial on the torch unit. Turn it counterclockwise for a bigger flame, clockwise for smaller. You don't need a huge flame for the job, so adjust it until you have a small, clean flame.

How to get rid of wetness on a torch?

Use a rag to soak up the excess wetness. Before you fire up the torch, soak up the excess penetrant with a rag. It's not super flammable, but it will flame up if there's a lot of unevaporated liquid present. Don't worry about getting every damp-looking area, just sop up the majority of it to be safe.

Can you remove a bolt that won't budge?

Some bolts just won't budge. They are stuck, seized, stubborn, rusted, corroded, and otherwise impossible to remove. There are a number of oils and penetrants that can really help, and a good soaking should always be your first line of attack.

Can you use a propane torch to remove a stuck bolt?

You can also use a butane torch, but it's a little cheaper and easier to go with the propane.

Why does heat work on a bolt?

In some other instances the reason heat works is that the bolt was applied with a threadlocker that requires heating to remove (if it comes out with no sign of rust, that's a pretty good bet) Many forms of rust contain "chemically bound water" and will lose that water (and shrink) when heated sufficiently . Share.

Why does a bolt cool faster than a nut?

Air however is a much better insulator, so I suspect that the bolt cools faster than the nut because it makes contact with more metal, which acts as a radiator.

What direction does a bolt expand?

The bolt expands in the direction of the green arrow, but cannot expand in the direction of the red arrows. As the bolt cools, it contracts. The contraction, however, is not constrained. This means that the bolt can shrink in all directions, making the bolt slightly smaller.

Why is it bad to lock up the brakes on a car?

This is the same reason it's bad to lock up the brakes on a car. Once the rubber starts sliding, the friction is significantly reduced.

Can you heat a frozen bolt?

In my experience, you have to heat a frozen bolt until it is blistering, red hot and getting soft, and remove it while it is hot and soft. Heating the bolt and allowing it to cool has never helped me. As the metal contracts, the bolt seizes; it usually doesn't loosen... it probably makes the situation worse.

Does metal expand when heated?

Metal arranged in a ring expands outward when heated. Imagine a ring of thin wire being heated--it expands primarily along its length, making both the inner and outer diameters larger. The same occurs with the material around a bolt hole. Generally, I try to heat the surrounding piece and not the bolt itself.

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