[JohnnySolo]

2004 Honda Recon 250

Calling all ideas! The unheard ofs and the heard ofs of all ideas! I got an axle nut I'm trying to get off. I've tried spraying it with WD 40 and scrubbing with a thing wire brush. Ive tried the following thing that was recommended by y'all lovely mechanics: soak in PB Blaster multiple times few days before the build and try getting a propane toch and heat it up!

They all seemed to work on the other nuts I had stuck. . .but the axle nuts? NOPE!

Just to clarify, the axle nut I'm referring to is the nut you take off to get to the hub. This is on my rear axle btw.
I've been following along a video done by a professional on a trx250 of them replacing brakes (also what I'm doing on my 250 recon) the guy clearly hit his axle nut with some penetrate then got his fancy air impact and lossened it. THEN turned it counterclockwise with his hand, thus removing the axle nut. So I'm certain I turned it the right way.

My final attempt that I can think of is get a breaker bar (getting tomorrow) and heat it up for 1 minute then try again.

I don't have an air impact. I know I should try it but too expensive. If I can't get it off then I'm taking it to someone with the proper tools for them to take it off.

Please let me know of ANY IDEAS. You guys are awesome and I'm ready for y'all's help!

 

[SlammedRanger]

Map gas. Or oxyasedalyn? Probably screwed that spelling up so bad lol. Make sure you heat from the outside more then the inside. You want to expand the bolt off the axle. Map gas is hotter then propane but you want it red hot get the asedalyn torch. If that dont get it off nothing will. Also i usually take a long pry bar and wedge it in the wheel studs and use a long breaker bar on a 1/2 or 3/4 drive ratchet.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Map gas. Or oxyasedalyn? Probably screwed that spelling up so bad lol. Make sure you heat from the outside more then the inside. You want to expand the bolt off the axle. Map gas is hotter then propane but you want it red hot get the asedalyn torch. If that dont get it off nothing will. Also i usually take a long pry bar and wedge it in the wheel studs and use a long breaker bar on a 1/2 or 3/4 drive ratchet.

I knew someone would say something about Mapp. Was thinking Shade tree would lol. Well this is the gas I had to get. No one nearby had Mapp. Everyone who had is was sold out and Walmart's website said in description this could loosen nuts. So i went to Walmart and bought it. Sorry to disappoint y'all lol.

But are you saying I need to heat the axle nut until it's red? And I've been heating the nuts outside only.

 

[SlammedRanger]

Yeah mapp gas will get it slightly red. Propane will never get it close to red. And asedalyn will get it bright cherry red.

 

[fishfiles]

If you don't have a impact then use a ratchet or breaker bar with a pipe as a cheater pipe to get more leverage

 

[JohnnySolo]

Yeah mapp gas will get it slightly red. Propane will never get it close to red. And asedalyn will get it bright cherry red.

so if it ain't close to red it might as well not be used? Can someone back up this statement?
Idk wherebI can get asedalyn or mapp.

 

[_Wilson_]

Don't forget about the BEST penetrating oil.

 

[SlammedRanger]

Yeah mapp gas will get it slightly red. Propane will never get it close to red. And asedalyn will get it bright cherry red.

so if it ain't close to red it might as well not be used? Can someone back up this statement?
Idk wherebI can get asedalyn or mapp.

Not necessarily. Just the more red it is the hotter it is and the more it expands. The more expansion the better chance it will move with less effort. Obveously having shop air with a big impact would make it come off easier. But not everyone has the luxury. My air compressor dosnt keep up with my big snap-on impact so i use asedalyn.

 

[mrbb]

I would try and borrow a impact gun, or maybe one even of them cheap HAMMER impact tools

 

[JohnnySolo]

Tomorrow I'm getting a breaker bar and when I get home I'll heat it up for a few minutes and give it one more go. I can't find the gas at any stores so I'm stuck with the cheap crap. I'd rather take it to someone who can get it off for little to no price than wait for some more penetrate to come in. Thanks for all the tips guys

 

[SamUK]

Oxy acetylene is the gas mixture slammed is taking of, it’s a mixture of oxygen and acetylene that can be altered to suit the material you want to heat up or cut, you can do both including welding providing you change the torch or torch nozzles.

In the ideal world you want the nut a dull red, you probably won’t achieve that as the hub and axle are absorbing heat faster than you can put it in.

My suggestion, buy your breaker bar, get the nut as hot as you physically can with the equipment you have, using a BRASS drift whack the nut and the end of the axle a few times, short sharp ‘cracks’ would be best not thundering blows, then heat it again and attempt to undo with your breaker bar.
Buy a good quality breaker bar, preferably NOT Snap-on, I’ve broken the knuckles on those several times, both times injuring myself! I find the bars with the external knuckle better.
Also, get yourself a 3 or 4 foot tube, your probably going to need it over the bar.

 

[Jeepwm69]

Take it to your local tire store, have them spin the nuts off with an impact.

I've fought axle nuts for hours, even ruined a front cv by cutting off the axle nut with a dremel.

The the wife got me a compressor, and I bought a cheap impact.

The problem with a breaker bar on a 4wheeler is there isn't enough weight to hold the thing in place. You end up just spinning the whole axle and tires with the breaker bar.

 

[JohnnySolo]

Take it to your local tire store, have them spin the nuts off with an impact.

I've fought axle nuts for hours, even ruined a front cv by cutting off the axle nut with a dremel.

The the wife got me a compressor, and I bought a cheap impact.

The problem with a breaker bar on a 4wheeler is there isn't enough weight to hold the thing in place. You end up just spinning the whole axle and tires with the breaker bar.

Yeah your onto something about the weight. I'm going to try it again. If that won't work I think I know someone who could help me out and get that axle nut off. I got a connection with a tire shop down the road. Thanks

 

[JohnnySolo]

Oxy acetylene is the gas mixture slammed is taking of, it’s a mixture of oxygen and acetylene that can be altered to suit the material you want to heat up or cut, you can do both including welding providing you change the torch or torch nozzles.

In the ideal world you want the nut a dull red, you probably won’t achieve that as the hub and axle are absorbing heat faster than you can put it in.

My suggestion, buy your breaker bar, get the nut as hot as you physically can with the equipment you have, using a BRASS drift whack the nut and the end of the axle a few times, short sharp ‘cracks’ would be best not thundering blows, then heat it again and attempt to undo with your breaker bar.
Buy a good quality breaker bar, preferably NOT Snap-on, I’ve broken the knuckles on those several times, both times injuring myself! I find the bars with the external knuckle better.
Also, get yourself a 3 or 4 foot tube, your probably going to need it over the bar.

Oh yeah I'll get the right stuff. Thanks Sam

 

[SamUK]

You can always ratchet strap your ATV down to the floor or bed of your truck/trailer, that’ll stop it moving when using the breaker bar. I had to do this before I invested in an impact gun.

 

[rodp]

I had exactly this problem last week, oxy/ acetylene got the nut red hot in about 20 seconds. You need to get the nut hot before the axle gets hot (and expands inside the nut) and that takes serious heat.

As said before, if using a breaker bar and brute force strap the rear end down to trailer (with wheel on) use a good breaker with extension and support breaker knuckle on an axle stand so it doesn't twist off the nut. Then use a great big tube.

Oh, my snap on 1/2" air gun wouldn't touch the one I wanted off without using the oxy/ acetylene.

 

[Jeepwm69]

Oh, my snap on 1/2" air gun wouldn't touch the one I wanted off without using the oxy/ acetylene.

I had to put a 3 foot snap on breaker bar (borrowed from Dad) on a 1/2" drive socket and then use another 4 foot cheater bar to brake the crank bolt loose on my Honda Accord when I replaced the timing belt.

Sounded like a gunshot when it broke loose, and I fell on my butt.

 

[rodp]

Oh, my snap on 1/2" air gun wouldn't touch the one I wanted off without using the oxy/ acetylene.

I had to put a 3 foot snap on breaker bar (borrowed from Dad) on a 1/2" drive socket and then use another 4 foot cheater bar to brake the crank bolt loose on my Honda Accord when I replaced the timing belt.

Sounded like a gunshot when it broke loose, and I fell on my butt.

:grin Been there a few times when I worked on the trucks, bolt suddenly gives and over you go :grin

 

[JohnnySolo]

Yeah I got a job now so an impact is on the list. What's y'all's recommendation for me? Not wanting to spend too much. $120 makes me think twice. I would use it on my four wheeler and other work for peoples toys. More than likely on nothing else. But I hate having stuck nuts.
I don't know torque or anything about impacts.

 

[RemMax]

You can probably take it by a local tire shop and have them take it off with a impact for you for a few $$'s
Shouldn't be too hard for a decent impact to unscrew it
I muffler shop has impacts as well and they have torches if all else fails
RemMax