frozen screws

admin

Good customer calls and says " I've got a couple of calipers with frozen screws", to which I replied " so I guess you want me to thaw them?"Well I guess I'll keep my day job. I Tig welded a stub onto allen head and 3 came out easily. 4th one I broke stub 3 times with no luck. Used small cutoff to cut boken stub as close to threads as possible. Started puddle and kept it going for about 30 seconds so the heat would transfer down pin then welded stub. I put caliper in vise, clamped on vice grip, and then gently rocked back and forth. The pin's head was moving a small ammount but did not unscrew. Looking closer I noticed bottom of pin was not moving at all. Started a puddle on bottom and held it to transfer heat, touched with wax and then it unscrewed. Calipers were $300 per, came off a Yamaha Rhino.Last pic shows bottom of pins where they were tight in caliper.Aluminum caliper, steel pin + mud and water----bad combination.Peter Attached Images
Reply:Nice work! I will have to remember that process. The owner ought to be happy you saved him a bunch.  Thanks for posting it.
Reply:Another great save Peter!!!(one for each caliper)Better yet -  - one for each bolt.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:PeterWhen you state that you started a puddle, are you using a tig to start that puddle. Also what is the wax trick. Never heard of that one?? Please explain.Aaron
Reply:Dunno about the heat, but the wax is drawn into the threads by capillary action.Cool stuff.  Only Denrep and Castweld have ever mentioned it here.Coupla crazed, whacked out, motor head dudesAnd they both know what they're talking about"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I tried the wax trick a few weeks ago for the first time.  Exhaust manifold bolts.  Seemed to work.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmI tried the wax trick a few weeks ago for the first time.  Exhaust manifold bolts.  Seemed to work.
Reply:I have used the heat and wax release process before and it does work. Another process is to use Loctite Freeze and Release! It works by freezing by the parts to about -50 degrees which opens cracks in the rust & oxidation and allows the lubricant to penetrate the cracks and free up & release the parts.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by 200mphbusaNice work! I will have to remember that process. The owner ought to be happy you saved him a bunch.  Thanks for posting it.