tyrrell
New Member
When trying to replace a broken aluminium life lins stanchion I couldn't remove the stainless steel bolts holding the stanchion as they had fused together. Any suggestions re how to unfuse them?
Freeing stainless steel bolts fused to aluminiun stanchion
- Thread starter tyrrell
- Start date
NorthUp
Well-Known Member
You need heat- start with lots of boiling water, if thats not working upgrade to a hot air gun on the alloy.
oceanpilgrim
Well-Known Member
I HAVE USED COKE BEFORE WITH GOOD RESULTS,TRY HOLDING A HAMMER ON ONE SIDE OF THE NUT AND HIT WITH SECOND HAMMER ON UTHER SIDE WORK ON ALTERNATE SIDES THIS WILL EXPAND THE NUT AND ROUND OF THE HARD SPOTS ON THE THREDD
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Prssure wash the area/bolt first, then apply heat, lots of it, keep applying heat, but dont set fire to the deck!! Should eventually release, when re-assembling, use a special grease, cant remmber what its called right now, but special for stainless to ally.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
"Duralac" This stuff
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Thats the gear!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
swift2
Member
Let us what worked or how you did it. Its nice to hear about the results.
Cliveshep
Well-Known Member
Stainless and aluminium are far enough apart on the galvanic table to cause corrosion. see here: http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Definitions/galvanic-series.htm#Compatibility
Where possible when you do get them off, assuming you don't have to disc cut them off, try and isolate stainless from aluminium every time. Adding sea water to the brew adds to your problems. What you will probably find is that the bolts have fused to the aluminium not just at the heads but more importantly right through the hole leaving you little alternative but drill them out. You can buy isolating "top hat" washers that electrically isolate bolts from fittings and you might consider this when replacing. They involve oversize holes in the aluminium fittings to install.
Where possible when you do get them off, assuming you don't have to disc cut them off, try and isolate stainless from aluminium every time. Adding sea water to the brew adds to your problems. What you will probably find is that the bolts have fused to the aluminium not just at the heads but more importantly right through the hole leaving you little alternative but drill them out. You can buy isolating "top hat" washers that electrically isolate bolts from fittings and you might consider this when replacing. They involve oversize holes in the aluminium fittings to install.
Superslooper
Member
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/details.php?cat=Penetrating%20Oils&product=30700
Try pasting the above link in I swear by this stuff its great+++
Try pasting the above link in I swear by this stuff its great+++
Cliveshep
Well-Known Member
Didn't know PlusGas was still around, mostly superseded by WD40 these days. However one salient point is that while it penetrates it won't eat the oxides of aluminium fusing the stainless steel bolts into the stanchions and cutting/drilling will probably still be the only option. The fusing will usually get so severe that the stainless bolts will shear before turning.