Removing a SS bolt from Aluminium

[robmcg]

Need to deconstruct the Rutland wind charger pole. The bolts are stainless steel and go into a lump of Aluminium inside the pole to support two pieces. The bolts are stuck solid and are Allen bolts which makes it more difficult to give it some wells without rounding them off. Any suggestions for encouraging them apart that goes beyond harsh language? :ambivalence:

Rob

 

[tolhurstorganic]

I had same problem with ss Allen into an alloy body of anchor winch. I heated the area up very hot and they came out no problem.
You may not be able to get the body hot enough without damaging other parts so heat may not be an option. Applying local heat might be an option, problem is that the heat will be dissapated over a wide area and the bolts may not get hot enough. You may try placing a round bolt of similar size onto the head of Allen and getting that very hot, the heat will partly travel down through the head and into the thread. Allow to cool a bit before attempting to turn the bolt. You must ensure that the Allen key is in good condition and the right fit , they are not great for putting much welly into.
Somebody is sure to come along with better tips sometime soon I am sure.

 

[Stork_III]

PlusGas and/or vinegar wil eventually remove the corrosion products..

 

[VicS]

PlusGas and/or vinegar wil eventually remove the corrosion products..

Perhaps try soaking in vinegar to dissolve the oxide then soak in a good release oil such as Plus Gas. The oily ness of the release oil might water proof it if you try the other way round.

 

[FWB]

ACF 50

 

[Pladdatoo]

Do not apply too much torque without plenty of lubrication and I would suggest alternating slowly forwards and backwards slowly extracting it.

How do I know (see another thread)................But why listen to me, I don't even take my own advice

Good luck and take it easy.

 

[colhel]

I'dA simple technique that I have used in the past is to first TIGHTEN the bolt you are trying to remove and then try and undo it.

 

[robmcg]

Now has a vinegar poultice on it. Fingers crossed! Will attempt to undo it with some Allen sockets for a bit more purchase, but will take it easy :encouragement:

 

[wully1]

Now has a vinegar poultice on it. Fingers crossed! Will attempt to undo it with some Allen sockets for a bit more purchase, but will take it easy :encouragement:

Sounds like a good plan, good luck with it.

I won a battle against a stainless steel screw stuck in an aluminium foil last week after much bad language, happily I didn't destroy the foil. The screw wasn't so lucky.
Go easy!

 

[Lakesailor]

Poke out the hole in the bolt head so that the Allen key seats properly. I fitted my sumpguard with Allen socket countersunk bolts and have to be careful to clean out the socket holes carefully before removing.

 

[ningcompoop]

A tip I picked up from elsewhwere on the web - use heat, plus-gas, etc, then hammer a (very!) slightly oversize torx bit into the screw to give you something to get a grip on - I was then able to use a socket set to remove the screw - bingo! Bear in mind the risk of shearing the head off, and that the screw will be knackered afterwards.

 

[alahol2]

This sounds interesting but may be difficult to arrange for your situation... http://www.tap-die.com/contents/en-uk/d296_Tip_Remove_Broken_Tap_Drill_Reamer_Tap_and_Die_Co.html

 

[coopec]

robmcg

Wherever you have steel/aluminum in contact you seem to get corrosion Maybe this link would be helpful?
Steel Bolt in Aluminum
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/archive/index.php/t-29000.html

Maybe you should consider Loctite anti-freeze to avoid this problem in the future?

Loctite ® Zinc Anti-Seize Lubricant

Loctite ® Zinc Anti-Seize is a smooth, homogenous mixture of zinc dust and petrolatum. It prevents seizing during assembly or disassembly of threaded or unthreaded metals joints, particularly if these metals joints involve aluminum or aluminum alloys. Loctite ® Zinc Anti-Seize also provides corrosion protection for both aluminum and ferrous metal components. Within a metal threaded connection, it acts like an"internal galvanize" using the electrochemical properties of zinc dust to protect iron surfaces. Typical applications of this Zinc Anti-Seize compound including: aluminum and other soft metal bolts, screws, studs, pipe joints, nuts, and plugs.

 

[Jassira]

This sounds interesting but may be difficult to arrange for your situation... http://www.tap-die.com/contents/en-uk/d296_Tip_Remove_Broken_Tap_Drill_Reamer_Tap_and_Die_Co.html

Thanks, that's probably one of the most useful tips I've seen, I can wait try it, I can hardly stop myself ordering some Alum right this moment, then I just need a suitably stuck bolt

 

[philip_stevens]

Need to deconstruct the Rutland wind charger pole. The bolts are stainless steel and go into a lump of Aluminium inside the pole to support two pieces. The bolts are stuck solid and are Allen bolts which makes it more difficult to give it some wells without rounding them off. Any suggestions for encouraging them apart that goes beyond harsh language? :ambivalence:

Rob

I had this same problem last winter with my Rutland two-part pole. There were two problems in fact. One, the bolts would not come out, no matter what, and two, the ally insert had swollen up and stretched the stainless steel pole sections where it joined.

The answer was at a fabricators - cut the ally part out and then join the two parts together with a SS sleeve.

The top bolts on the wind benny part came out OK, as they had been inserted with jointing compound.

 

[Ric]

Try all the above suggestions - but don't be dismayed if they don't work. I had exactly the same problem with my Rutland a few years ago, and the only solution in the end was to resort to a disc cutter to slot cut off the Rutland from the pole, disc off the stainless steel heads, then carefully slice away the collar of stainless steel that is left. I managed to get it all apart without damage.

 

[Berci]

Need to deconstruct the Rutland wind charger pole. The bolts are stainless steel and go into a lump of Aluminium inside the pole to support two pieces. The bolts are stuck solid and are Allen bolts which makes it more difficult to give it some wells without rounding them off. Any suggestions for encouraging them apart that goes beyond harsh language? :ambivalence:

Rob

 

[Berci]

I'm new here but I used to be a chemist. I read that one member mentioned using drain cleaner. This makes sense. The chemistry is as follows: drain cleaner is all or mostly caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) This in solution will dissolve both aluminium and its hydroxides more effectively than vinegar (acetic acid)

 

[Berci]

PS. Caustic soda is dangerous. DON'T get it in eyes!! It doesn't affect s/s

 

[Neeves]

PS Acetic acid in your eyes is also dangerous.

Jonathan