Induction coil heater or blow torch?

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Got a bolt that won't come out. Needs heat as penetrating fluid and the windy gun haven't done the job.

I can't find a hire shop in Glasgow that has induction coil heaters, and I don't want to spend £300 on a new one. Or can you just do as much with a blow torch?

New territory for me here, so thanks in advance for suggestions!

[jfdi]

Providing you have good access and your not likely to set fires to anything flammable then a mapp gas torch should get plenty of heat into it.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

It's the gearbox drain bolt on my Impreza. I'll have to look at where the fuel lines run.

[hidetheelephants]

Unless the bolt head is wrecked I doubt a drain plug wouldn't yield to a breaker bar and some swearing.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

hidetheelephants said:

Unless the bolt head is wrecked I doubt a drain plug wouldn't yield to a breaker bar and some swearing.

Then come round and have a crack!

It shouldn't be that tight, I agree, but as the windy gun isn't shifting it...either that or it's cross threaded and I'm in real trouble

[hidetheelephants]

The main problem is it will be difficult to get enough heat into the gearbox casing to have an effect, it's the casing that needs heating here rather than the plug. There are windy guns and there are windy guns; what are you using?

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

I'd politely call it the entry model from Machine Mart. Perhaps I should hire something else? If so, recommendations welcome

[Super Sonic]

Have you removed the filler hole plug? Worth doing this first.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

You fill these up via the dipstick for the gearbox oil, which is tiny.

[bearman68]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Got a bolt that won't come out. Needs heat as penetrating fluid and the windy gun haven't done the job.

I can't find a hire shop in Glasgow that has induction coil heaters, and I don't want to spend £300 on a new one. Or can you just do as much with a blow torch?

New territory for me here, so thanks in advance for suggestions!

Induction heater will be no good for that application. It's oxy acetylene or go home.

Here's what I would do.

1) Take a large ball pein hammer and a 6 point impact socket. Place it on the gearbox drain, and give it several sharp smacks with the hammer on the end of the socket. The shock will often loosen it, but make sure you don't break the casing. Try slackening it with a bar.
2) If this is no good. cut a slot in it, and smack it CCW with a chisel. No prisioners now, get it smacked, occasionally trying the above method.
3) Remove the sump instead.


I don't think heating the sump will be any good as there is too much heat conductivity, and heating the plug doesn't seem to work.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Thanks everyone, it's a sodding T70 socket just to add to the fun btw.

[hidetheelephants]

Is the car mobile? If so I'd take it to a garage and pay them to loosen the plug, they'll have windy guns and enormous breaker bars suitable to the task.

[SlimJim16v]

hidetheelephants said:

Is the car mobile? If so I'd take it to a garage and pay them to loosen the plug, they'll have windy guns and enormous breaker bars suitable to the task.

A garage couldn't get the crank pulley bolt of a Fiesta off. They had to get a lorry specialist in who had a suitably grunty impact gun to do it.

[richhead]

i wouldnt be using an impact gun on a drain plug, what you need is a big bar on the socked and be smooth, idealy have an assistant holding the socket square

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

The reason I'm doing this myself as specialists are impossible to get hold of and local garages are only interested in fitting Chinese ditchfinders for the local "I want a cheap tyre even though I'm driving a 24 plate Range Rover" brigade.

[hidetheelephants]

Time to buy a breaker bar? Even a monster 3' one can be bought for £50, The only time I've failed to shift a fastener with a lever that long it's been a monster hydraulic coupling perhaps 50mm in size. The scaffold tube of doom on the end of the wrench moved it, but not until some swearing was added.

[Krikkit]

Have you got a welder? Get a big nut welded onto the drain plug, that'll add plenty of heat and give you something a bit sturdier to get the impact on

[ffc]

richhead said:

i wouldnt be using an impact gun on a drain plug, what you need is a big bar on the socked and be smooth, idealy have an assistant holding the socket square

Why? Should be fine for undoing I would have thought.

[hidetheelephants]

The OP hasn't complained that the socket is chewed up, he just hasn't been able to shift it.

[ffc]

richhead said:

i wouldnt be using an impact gun on a drain plug, what you need is a big bar on the socked and be smooth, idealy have an assistant holding the socket square

Why? Should be fine for undoing I would have thought.