Need advice about my rusty nuts!

 Gday guys, went over boat trailer on the weekend and found that I cant remove the wheels because the wheel nuts have rusted on hard. Managed to get a couple loose on one wheel but it took alot of hammering on the wheel brace. Most would not budge so i gave up  any tips on how to remove them? its a problem ive never had before - do i need to get them red hot with one of those portable flame blow torches first and then try. Also the wheel rims are all badly rusted and i want to replace them.  The tyres are  185R14C all like new. Any tips on where to get repalcement rims? i dont want anything flash second hand is fine   just the solid disc type rims will do me  and does   185R14C mean i need a 14 inch rim? thanks ahead for any advice   cheers   dave


Brock O's picture

Posts: 3223

Date Joined: 11/01/08

Decent 1/2" rattle gun, they

Tue, 2023-09-26 14:16

Decent 1/2" rattle gun, they will either come loose or break.

scotto's picture

Posts: 2470

Date Joined: 21/04/08

heat

Tue, 2023-09-26 14:28

heat will sort them out quick smart. they dont have to be red hot, but the hotter the better. Map gas is fine for this. oxy/accetylene is awesome!

 

you can then try knock the studs off the hub, and go to Martins trailer parts and renew. 

Happy Hooker's picture

Posts: 305

Date Joined: 12/11/08

Had similar issues on trailer

Tue, 2023-09-26 14:58

Mainly on bracket rollers etc. Did multiple ways as they were rusted solid and pricks to get off . 

Got them loose using rattle gun , I did spray the bolts with some Corrosion-X first and let it sit for a while .

Also did some with MAP torch , heated right up then let them cool down and that makes them expand and contract , cracking the rust . 

Did others using some Locktite Freeze and release spray .  

Be mindful if you are going down the heating them red hot on a rim , you might heat up the bearings and grease in them so probably not something i would do but up to you  ... 

To be honest if you are going down the route of changing rims , take them down to a tyre place that sells them ( yes 14C means 14 inch ) , they will be able to get them off for you saving you the hassle and will put your old tyres back on if they are good nick.  

 

  

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 14967

Date Joined: 30/11/09

 Mate if you want them heated

Tue, 2023-09-26 19:25

 Mate if you want them heated and removed happy to do it at my workshop if you want to PM me 

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Love the West!

Posts: 739

Date Joined: 22/08/12

Thanks for the offer mate

Wed, 2023-09-27 13:43

 will have a go at them first and see how i go cheers dave

still trying's picture

Posts: 1049

Date Joined: 27/06/17

 I had some trouble with nuts

Tue, 2023-09-26 19:41

 I had some trouble with nuts on a prado  weren't rusted but were done up so tight. I welded a socket to a 38sq tube that I had put a mitre in was about 1200 long most of the studs just snapped but got it off was only 1 rim luckily.  Ive now added another socket to other end and always take it with me when going away.

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 rather be fishing

flangies's picture

Posts: 2542

Date Joined: 11/05/08

 I do this on a weekly basis

Tue, 2023-09-26 20:20

 I do this on a weekly basis for work. Rattle gun works wonders, flogging spanner or cheater bar sometimes needed to get it to crack. Haven't had to use heat and only ever had one flange I couldn't get apart