Garage Advice column.

[JD440ICD2006]

It is entertaining (as long as I did not pay for it) to watch the bubbles (effervescence) to "appear" to actually penerate between a rusted nut and bolt.
Water is the cheapest, and heat applied properly seldom fails.
Save your money on the snake oil cans. Each one of them contains a smell that they know intentionally keep you hooked on them.

[Lavoy]

The great fallacy of all penetrants is that rusts originates from water, or moisture, not a fancy petroleum based product in a spray can. Nothing cuts rust better than water, although I have had a few guys mention acid, but never tried it myself.
Lavoy

[oldtanker]

Getting a bigger hammer is seldom the best way to take something apart or make it fit. If it isn't coming apart, stop and recheck everything to make sure you didn't miss a bolt or snap ring.......and if it isn't going back together don't force it unless it's a pressed fit! Really good way to make a new part into scrap!

Rick

[Paul Buhler]

My 60 something body isn't as strong, nimble or resilient as it once was. Neither is my crawler's. I pace myself, try to work smarter and carry a smaller load. I find that this helps me strategize better when using my machine as well, and it helps me avoid costly repairs. Of course sometimes I forget.

[dustin]

repack your trailer wheel bearings before a 600 mile road trip to get dozer tracks.

Had um both changed in 2 hours!

[cat10til2]

when removing broken bolts, I find that it works even better if you weld a flat washer on first and let it cool. Then weld a nut on second. This gives 2 heating and cooling cycles and almost never fails. I have had many failed attempts when going for just the nut welded on. This also allows you to weld inside the nut as well as outside, as long as you stay low enough to still get a wrench on it.

[gus]

when removing broken bolts, I find that it works even better if you weld a flat washer on first and let it cool. Then weld a nut on second. This gives 2 heating and cooling cycles and almost never fails. I have had many failed attempts when going for just the nut welded on. This also allows you to weld inside the nut as well as outside, as long as you stay low wnough to still get a wrench on it.

This also allows welding a larger nut on it.
Gus

[LeonardL]

I learned that your right hand will not support the weight of a 350 final drive! I am going to assume this also holds true for your left hand!

[jdlou]

When using a parts washer, take you wrist watch off so as not to get solvent between watch and skin. That really hurts!!!! Lou

[LeonardL]

That holds true for wedding rings as well! Wrist watches and wedding rings have real problems with electricity too! They like to short out between positive battery connections.

[cdunn]

I once saw a fellow lose his wedding band along with is finger when he hung it on the seat frame while jumping from the track to the ground. It was sickening to see and he was in real pain obviously.

[LeonardL]

I was always afraid of doing that very thing!!! Wow!! That's why I don't wear mine when I'm working on anything. That and I shorted mine out once! Not bad enough to hurt me other than it scared the crap out of me! My biggest issue was the knot on my head that my wife gave me for putting a mark on my wedding band!!

[cdunn]

Leonard, that does hurt doesn't it; since i'm older now she can catch me a lot easier.

[digitup2]

Actually I caught my wedding ring on a nail sticking out a barn beam two weeks after the big day took the ring off and never put it back on I can still run faster scared than she can mad! . Digitup.

[Lavoy]

I have heard of it also, but was a woman on a grain truck, jumped to the ground, and caught the ring on something on the box. Exact reason I never wore my ring on the farm, and rarely wear it to this day.
Lavoy