Yerf Dog 3203 suspension bolts stuck!

[Jgriffter]

Hope I can get some pointers! Have read all the posts I can on this.

I am restoring a Yerf dog 3203. Last major effort is replacing the bent front suspension arms. I am having a very tough time getting the bolts free on both the spindle and also the two pivoting bolts that connect the arms to the frame. I have the frame bolt nuts off but cannot get the bolt out - I read there is some kind of bushing that might be rusted. On the spindle side, I cannot even get the nut fully off - I got it about half way off but no further, even after air tools and heating the bolt with a propane torch to remove paint residue. I don't want to cut bolts unless absolutely necessary. Is there a trick to getting these undone? I suspect several of you have encountered the same repair. Any help is appropriated.

 

[mckutzy]

hello and welcome,
I see there is a stuck bolt but having a hard time understanding you on this one.
could you post a pic.

 

[Jgriffter]

Will do once back at home. The bolts are the two in the center of the kart frame that hold the A Arms to the frame, then also the two bolts at the end of each A Arm that connect the tie rods/wheel assembly to the A Arm. Thanks.

 

[supermanotorious]

soak with PB blaster, then attack with large breaker bar

 

[fowler]

Get a wire brush on the threads
Preferably a one on a drill

It'll remove any paint or rust

Then hit it with on blaster or CRC or sighing

 

[Jgriffter]

Here are the pictures of the two bolt locations I am having trouble with. The bolts in the center of the frame are the most troublesome. Even with the nuts off, the bolts will not turn - nor can i move them by hammering on the opposite end of the head. I tried the PB Blaster this evening. Will let that sit over night. It is difficult to get the PB in where I want it. Hope it really does seep in to the frozen parts.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Jgriffter]

....and a picture of the whole assembly - bolts are stuck on both sides of the A-arm. Thanks.

 

[fowler]

The kingpin bolts

If u can't hammer it out
Then when u turn the spindle does the bolt turn

Trying to work out if it's seized in the spindle or in the a arm

If it's the spindle then hold it tight and try to turn the bolt

Do the same for the a arm

In fact both components have travel limits

So push each peice as far as it'll go and get a big bar with a socket on the bolts and reef it till it cracks


If this fails then apply heat to the seized areas
It'll ruin the paint but u may not have a choice

 

[zbuck]

If I am not mistaken, I believe he is talking about the center bolts where the a-arms attach to the frame. If you can get to the back side of those bolts, take a harden dowel or a brass punch and try to move the bolts to the front enough so that the heads are away from the frame then you can soak them with PB blaster. You mention air tools, try and tighten them a little and then go to reverse.

 

[Jgriffter]

Thanks for the tips. So far, no luck.

I am talking about the two bolts that attach the a arms to the frame. The nut is off but I cannot move the bolt, knock it out from the end of the bolt, or move it at all with an air impact wrench or breaker bar. The bolt is moving with the A Arm so it must be seized to the a arm somehow. I have soaked it with PB blaster overnight but still no movement on either at all - and that is using a breaker bar 1/2 inch 15/16 socket that just lifts the front of the kart when I try to budge it. I will keep soaking it.

 

[fowler]

Then get heat into it
I think u said u have a torch

Heat up the a arm where the bolt goes though it

Then get a breaker bar on it a jump on it like your life depends on it

It may help to take the shock out
Then rotate the bolt so your pushing down on the bar

Let the a arm twist so it rotates and hit the frame so it can't rotate any further

This will work
I gotta do it all the time with far bigger bolts

U will either get the bolt out or snap the head
It's just a matter of getting a bigger pole on the breaker bar or getting a bigger hammer

 

[itsid]

U will either get the bolt out or snap the head

Hmm,
but is snapping the head a desirable outcome here?

I mean having that bolt seized is bad but driveable,
having it seized AND broken still wouldn't let you
remove the A-arm but you wouldn't want to drive it either.

'sid

 

[fowler]

Well it should come out
Just saying that that method will definitely have results

Just needs more force
U could hammer it out
Just gotta hit it harder

But that would wreak the bolt

 

[happy_8637]

even it you heat it and break it u can then drive the bolt out with a punch and hammer or if you have an air hammer you could put it on the bolt head and twist the head tawrds the left it should jiggle it loose

 

[Jgriffter]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I still have stuck bolts but I do have a positive side effect. I removed the shock and locked the a arm against the frame like fowler said. Then used my longest 1/2 socket breaker bar for greatest leverage. I didn't get the bolt loosened but I did bend the a-arm so that it was more even (it had been wrecked and that a-arm was bent - my whole reason to replace it). So I don't have a loosened bolt but I do have a slightly more true steering assembly! Man, that thing is on tight!

 

[fowler]

Ha this is outta control
Sometimes it just wants to be a prick doesn't it

Are u replacing the a arm or just removing it to repair it?

 

[firemanjim]

Go rent or borrow the biggest impact hammer you can get. Put the head against the threaded end of the bolt. Start "whackin" it..... the force from the impact will help "shock" the bolt and set it free. Sometimes two iron pieces will rust together, kinda like fusing together. I have 2 wheel hubs on a kart i can NOT remove because of this..... I work in a machine shop and have tried for 2 years now to remove them. I/we tried everything we could think of. Heat, oils, beating it, freezing it, 10ton press, 60ton press, ect..... They are STILL on there.... dont give up. It will come off..... out.....
The impact HAMMER SHOULD work. Ive had the same a arm issue you speak of, and thats how i did it. BFIH......
If you cant budge it with that, cut the head and take it to a shop to have the rest of it pressed out.....

 

[fowler]

Ha I had this issue today with some big u bolts on a haul pac

But time is worth more than parts

So after 15mins of heating the bracket I got one out and had to just gas axe the u bolt
If I wanna know how much time costs
It was a $250 u bolt over an air tank

If u can, heat up the a arm till it glows orange
Till it's just off melting

Then beat the hell out of it

If all else fails then get a hacksaw and cut between the joins
This will get the a arm out
With is a start

And yeah get a big air hammer and hammer it

If it were me I'd get my 3/4 rattle gun on it once hot

Just gotta think outside the box

It may help if u flip he kart on its side so u can get a decent swing at it

 

[Jgriffter]

Thanks firemanjim. If I can't get it loose after a week of PB blasting it, that will be my next move. I have been working on this thing for several months and this was the last job. The kart runs well but the steering is wonky due to one of the a arms being bent from the previous owner's wreck. I have new a-arms to install if I can get the old ones off.

Here is a picture - was a rusting forgotten kart just a while back...

 

[qtband]

Put it in your truck and take it to a tire store. Ask them to use their impact wrench on it. Alternating between forward and reverse will loosen it up.