Stubborn Water Pump Bolt How to Break Loose?

[Lane]

Stubborn Water Pump Bolt - How to Break Loose?

1981 Satoh Bull S-630 has badly leaking water pump seal and a new pump in in hand to replace. Only problem is that one of the through body bolts will not break free and I am worried if I apply any additional force the bolt will snap. Any advise on how to work on this successfully?

 

[Travelover]

I'd hit with a hammer enough to shock it, soak it with penetrating oil over night, then carefully try to alternately loosen and tighten it never going more than a few degrees rotation until it loosens.

 

[r8nger]

Soak with pb blaster,tap on the end of the bolt repeatedly while applying torque , apply heat , not to bolt but to nut/ surrounding female threads, and when you finally get it out, put never seize on the bolt when you reassemble , available at local parts stores

 

[skylarkguy]

A trick I learned on a very stubborn bolt. Was to take a torch and heat it red hot. Then with a water drenched cotton cloth (tee shirts work good) douse it until you can touch it. Practically was only finger tight afterwards...but be aware of anything that could catch fire/melt/deform that could cause you grief in the future. Penetrating oil as suggested by others often works too.

 

[cqaigy2]

I saw somewhere on TBN where someone suggested using wax. Heat the bolt enough to melt the wax, apply to bolt or nut so that it wicks in. I've not tried it. I use the PB blaster method mentioned above, over night along with the small tightening and loosing to good effect.

 

[deerseeker001]

i agree PB Blaster over night that's some good stuff.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...This is nothing new but there are better penetrating solutions..

Penetrating oil ........... Average load to break free

None ..............................516 pounds
WD-40 .......................... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .....................214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ............... 127 pounds
Kano Kroil ......................106 pounds
ATF-Acetone mix............ 53 pounds

The figures above can be found in many places on the net...

 

[Lane]

Thanks guys, these are all good and I will try the PB Blaster first since I have time on my side. The concern I have is that the shoulder of the bolt passes through about an inch of pump body before engaging blind female threads in the engine block and the bolt head has a built in washer that is flush and tight against the body. Can PB Blaster get through this? I would really hate to have this smallish bolt snap off in the engine block....

 

[modifyit]

I saw similar specs in FARM SHOW MAGAZINE. The ATF-Acetone mix came out ahead of all others. Not sure, haven't tried it.

 

[mrmikey]

Another thing you can do if you have a welder. Grind, file or otherwise clean the head of the bolt to clean metal, turn the heat down on the welder, 40-50A or so, put the ground on the block as close to the bolt you want to loosen, get a short welding rod, 5/32 - 3/16 or something big in that range, immediately put the rod hard to the head of the bolt, you don't want any arcing and leave it there for a bit.
The bolt threads will heat up and try to expand, since they're captured in the tapped hole they can't, so the bolt, unable to expand in the diameter will expand in the length. When it cools it'll be smaller in the diameter (hopefully) and will turn out.....Mike