Shear bolt madness

[kfeuerherm]

Thanks, Don!! A good humorous end to a sad story.

(Except that I didn't mention that when I went out after fixing the tractor to go down to the farmer who'd helped out earlier, my battery was dead. So had to charge that...!!! As you say... pile up!! What are the chances I can head to bed without another disaster?) Take care, everyone!

 

[dsmiley]

So glad your nightmare is over. Good thread. I have learned some things. One is that I need to take measurements or come up with a scheme where I can align the holes dead on for sure. I don't ever want to end up with what you had to do.

Maybe that shank was rusted in there. Maybe it's a good thing to shear a bolt every once in awhile!

 

[kfeuerherm]

Thanks...!

What others said is correct about alignment: if you have the same model I do, then lining up the 'pilot holes' should really do the trick; the issue here was that the damned thing was somehow jammed in there tight. I did in fact notice a bit of rust around the shaft at the bolt when I had the fan out. Not surprising, I guess, as I've never had the fan out of there in four+ years (my first time breaking that particular shear bolt).

I would certainly recommend some preventative maintenance like marking the shaft as one person suggested if/when there aren't pilot holes! And in my haste, bozo that I am, I didn't grease the bolt or the shaft under the fan when I reassembled it. Unfortunately we're back to cold weather (apparently it's likely to be the coldest February on record here since 1979) so I'm loathe to disassemble it.

One last thing: have at least one extra shear bolt on hand (i.e. two or more). When I put the bolt in after all this, due to tightness it damaged the threads and I wasn't able to get the nut on! I suppose one doesn't want to mess with the hole diameter much since extra play is likely to lead to wobble and premature shearing, but at least since I'd had the foresight (!) to buy two, I got the second one in. I'll have to fix the threads with my tap/die set when I get a moment

Good luck to you!

 

[Soundguy]

a air hammer with a blunt punch end is good for moving things like this.

 

[kfeuerherm]

a air hammer with a blunt punch end is good for moving things like this.

Interesting. I don't have that sort of stuff, but I remember musing that if I had something that operated somewhat like a jackhammer that I could get in there... of course I didn't, though

 

[Soundguy]

for limited use, you can get an air hammer cheap at harbor freight.

 

[kfeuerherm]

for limited use, you can get an air hammer cheap at harbor freight.

Good to know! I have a friend who goes to the US occasionally who would be familiar with such things, could talk to him about it some time. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Soundguy]

that and a couple cheap chissles and odd jobs or sheet metal seteration and cutting can be buzzed right out.

 

[My Hoe]

that and a couple cheap chissles and odd jobs or sheet metal seteration and cutting can be buzzed right out.

Sound Guy,

I always enjoy your thoughtful posts, and would like to have a reason to buy an air hammer (to use with chisel-bit, etc..., as well as a punch/hammer).

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with a word you used and, being interested in metal work, it's driving me crazy (depending upon who you ask, that's a short trip--:laughing.

So, what is meant by "...sheet metal seteration..."? I'm thinking you meant to type "...sheet metal separation...?"

It may seem like I'm busting your chops, but I'm not. There are a lot of metal working-related words I've learned, that didn't look like words to me, when I first met them, e.g. "sintered metal".

I definitely want to get some air tools. Sheet metal "nibblers" and a "needle scaler/gun" are high on my "wish list." Along with a die grinder and a "spot weld mill," for drilling out factory spot welds, so one can "plug weld them with a MIG or TIG, and have that quasi-factory look.

My Hoe

 

[Soundguy]

my telephone and tablet do weird autocorrections and seem to make up words sometimes. doesn't help that the keypad key button spaces, about 4 of them can fit under your finger... separation.

If you won't be using it often.. the cheap harbor freight one should last you.

I bought it, and a spare pack of the tools ( pointed tip, blunt tip hammer, flat chissle, v-chissle. ). The v-chissle is good for cuting sheet metal off a frame. the blunt tip makes a good hammer to buzz a stuck pin out of a hole, etc.