r0cky

I have a huge bolt going on this tire carrier that I'm installing ... the huge bolt has a huge nut to match. However, at this final step in assembling everything, the nut seems not to want to thread onto the bolt anymore. Is there ANYTHING I can do (aside from searching for a new giant bolt at some giant bolt place, or buying tools that cost a giant amount of money) rather soon so I can drive my truck?

I have a dremel! And a pickle fork!

r0cky

please help! I can't drive until it gets fixed!!

shiftless89

try turning the nut around and using the other side. How did you ding those threads up, thats a big bolt

Its also a course thread and should start very easily

hellifiknow

jimbo74

sure they are the same pitch? is it a locknut situation? can you get a wrnch onto the backside of the bolt?

Silver_Truck

a small file is how i fix my boogered up threads

bike4miles

Same here..

But how did the threads get messed up again? Did the nut go on by hand or does it just not go on? Are the threads actually damaged?

shiftless89

you know there's humor in thinking "r0cky" has a problem with nuts.

sorry I digress, back to the topic at hand:

post up some pics. Mine spun on freely untill it touched the lock ring and then I snugged it up. Something must be really wrong for it not to thread, Its not cross-threaded is it?

r0cky

it won't go on when turned around - it's a nylock type nut with a smaller end on that side.

r0cky

all i know is that the first time i tried the nut a week or so ago, it worked fine ... yet when i tried it today, it would not catch the threads at all ... and i don't know how i could have possibly actually injured the threads, i just know that the nut will not thread on there and that it seems to be a problem with the bolt (as opposed to the nut).

r0cky

maybe it's because i had to hammer the bolt through the hole with a sledge? (then again, i don't think Steve would've recommended that if there was a chance it'd get messed up)

bike4miles

Sounds like you may have mared the threads at the end of the bolt. There are special files for that aplication that are vary small and have sharp corners. I would sugest you pick some up at your local tool store.

r0cky

well, i would, but i can't drive the car without a nut securing that bolt, and i can't uninstall it because you have no idea how long it too me to get it to work ... i start school tomorrow.

sooo ... since i'm going to have to get something online since i can't use my truck, should i order a thread file like you suggest, or just an entirely new bolt? (but i will have to hammer it in again as well, so ...)

e rock

Just get out your dremel and the thinnest cutting wheel you have. Start cleaning up the threads around the tip and use the side of the wheel to put a nice bevel on the first turn of the threads. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, get a real close look at a new bolt and do your best to replicate that on your bolt. Don't worry about cutting too much of the first turn - it won't we bearing any load anyway once you get the nut past it. Really the only concern would be cosmetic if that end shows.

Good luck,
Eric

r0cky

Okay, spent the last two hours trying to fix the @!#$@(#%R bolt threads with the dremel and to no avail.

I'm just going to have to leave the truck parked until I can order a new one online. Guess that means walking to school.

Rivalred

Tap and Die Set and go over the threads. You should be able to pick up a cheap set. Even Auto Zone carries cheap carriage bolts.

Try a cheap Tap and Die set, use it and return it.

r0cky

to do what?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Get a triangular file and you can smooth down any rough spots on the threads on the bolt. Why a triangular file? Because it has 60 degree corners and that exactly matches the 60 degree v-groove used on bolts. You can buy special thread restoring files but a plain old 3-sided file will work fine on larger threads.

r0cky

the problem is, I'm not seeing any rough spots ... I can't quite locate the problem area ... I seem to have forced the nut on somehow, and it's just taking a hell of a lot to turn the nut at this point because I guess the damaged part is still struggling against the bolt. I can't seem to get it any farther on as with each turn now the entire bolt is turning with the nut ... I guess I'll just need to wait until after school tomorrow and hold one side with something while turning the nut with something else. I don't actually have a socket big enough to use on this, so I'm using an adjustable wrench type tool.

Thanks for all the suggestions ... it looks a little more promising than it did a big ago, so I'll just have to wait and see what I can do with it tomorrow ...

Rivalred

I must of thread it wrong... I did not know the nut was stuck on the bolt.

Sorry.

r0cky

no ... it wasn't ... i'm saying that i was finally able to get the nut on the bolt ...... you're exactly right, earlier when you posted, i COULDN'T get the nut on the bolt. now i have, and it's just taking a lot of work to thread it on there now.