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Removing rusty nut
Ninehigh - 12/3/12 at 07:34 PM

The Pug has lost its rear wiper (the whole arm, it cracked where it held on to the spindle)

So how do I fit a new one? The nut that I have to remove and replace is rusted to buggerey and while I've been wd-40'ing it for a week now it's still stuck. I also don't want to add too much pressure either because the spindle is set into the window and I'm NOT breaking that!

So I have wd-40, a lighter, spanners, soap.. the usual household stuff.. Shall I just cut it off or is there another trick?

daniel mason - 12/3/12 at 07:41 PM

i had the same problem on my car. the snow/ice snapped my rear wiper clean off. the nut was very very tight but i got ot off in the end with a socket set. i was pleased it came off with the rear screen i one piece!

[Edited on 12/3/12 by daniel mason]

britishtrident - 12/3/12 at 07:45 PM

You might get away with using a nut splitter but i think a hacksaw is the way to go.

rusty nuts - 12/3/12 at 07:47 PM

Charming!

Ninehigh - 12/3/12 at 08:37 PM

I was thinking of hacksaw but how can I do that without damaging the thread underneath?

trextr7monkey - 12/3/12 at 08:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Charming!


I'm sure it is nothing personal - perhaps a name change to "heavily oxidised hexagonal fasteners" will prevent any further occurences of this unfortunate identity crisis

atb
Mike

FuryRebuild - 12/3/12 at 08:43 PM

Mole grips, clamped on bastard tight. That's got me out of a tight spot before.

Brake fluid is an excellent releasing agent but damages paint, so be super cautious if you try that.

You could vertically drill down through the nut with a 2mm bit to make a line of drill holes. Then grips or a nut-splitter. 2mm bits will snap easily though, so have your drill perpendicular and don't rush it.

throw a brick at it, from a distance, screaming "release, you bastard". This method isn't guaranteed to work.

Slimy38 - 12/3/12 at 09:08 PM

You've mentioned WD40, but it really isn't the best penetrating fluid. Personally I always use Plusgas, it's sorted me out with god knows how much rusty mush.

To give it a proper soaking, get some plasticine, and make a little bowl around the nut. Then fill it with plusgas and leave for 24 hours.

The other option is to look on Ebay to see how much a new spindle would actually cost. You might find it's cheap enough to bite the bullet and just hacksaw the whole thing to bits.

britishtrident - 12/3/12 at 09:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Charming!


As a US Colonel replied to the Geramans when asked to surrender durring the Battle of the Bulge "Nuts!"

britishtrident - 12/3/12 at 09:11 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
I was thinking of hacksaw but how can I do that without damaging the thread underneath?


Just a bit of care is all that is required a little damage to the thread is acceptable.

nb123 - 12/3/12 at 09:19 PM

Hello

I Have a product from Wurth called "rost off ice" which freezes and lubricates the offending rusty item. By freezing it cracks the rust in the thread and assists in releasing it. Hope this helps.

theprisioner - 12/3/12 at 10:14 PM

Irwin Bolt/Nut Extractor Remover Set 10,11,13,14,16mm, ebay,screwfix they are great, don't know if it will fix your problem but I don't know how I managed without them over the years!

DavidW - 12/3/12 at 10:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by theprisioner
Irwin Bolt/Nut Extractor Remover Set 10,11,13,14,16mm, ebay,screwfix they are great, don't know if it will fix your problem but I don't know how I managed without them over the years!


These have cured many rusty nut problems on my land rover.

David

britishtrident - 12/3/12 at 10:48 PM

OP says spindle is in window so heat or cold or brute force is not on the menu.

PSpirine - 12/3/12 at 11:14 PM

Keep in mind that whilst the spindle goes through the window, it's not mounted to the window, so you can apply as much force as you like (i.e. a breaker bar for more torque) to turn the nut, but it might break the wiper motor internals? Just make sure you don't apply a bending force to the spindle..

I'd personally try a nut splitter first.

cliftyhanger - 13/3/12 at 06:44 AM

If no nut splitter then I would either drill down though the widest part of the nut, and then progressively bigger drill bits until all the way through or nearly, then try undoing, maybe a few taps with a chisel to split the nut too.
Alternatively just hacksaw down against the thread of the bolt. If space it may be easier. Decent blade required of course.

If you want to try an easier approach first, you can soak it all in vinegar for a while, that will help dissolve any rust, the plasticine "bowl" is good for that too. Then penetrating oil, then try again.

HowardB - 13/3/12 at 06:54 AM

hacksaw, or even easier would be a dremel style thingy with a cutting disc, magic for removing those small hard to fix bits that are too delicate for a proper angry grinder


hth

ps my last dremel thingy was from Aldi for £20 with all the tools included,....

Ninehigh - 14/3/12 at 07:16 PM

I'll have to have a look at taking it out, but it's peugeot so it'll likely need the window removing or something stupid... Otherwise I think it's going to be hacksaw time.

Shall also try vinegar too

Thanks for the replies