Have purchased a 3.5 tonne Hitch Ezy and went to change it over the other day , upon removing the 4 nuts holding the coupling on the a/frame I realised that the 4 bolts were tack welded on from underneath the top plate .When the chassis was manufactured they welded the top plate onto the a/frame and then some checker plate down the front face and under the bottom for around 6 " . It has made it impossible to get a grinder anywhere near the heads of the bolts . In a nutshell I am looking for a way to get those tack welds off the bolts . My only thought is to get a pair of stilsons on the bolts and a length of pipe to see if I can break the welds ,anf ideas appreciated . I dont want to just jump into destroying the bolts incase I cant get them out . The only other thing that seems practical is to grind the plate completely off the aframe , and get a new one welded in place , that raises the issue of engineer approval for altering the a/frame ?
Is there a reason you cant just use the existing bolts. If so then yes if they are just tacked then a twist with the stilsons or a belt with a big hammer but either way will probably wreck the existing bolt
Cant get a camera into the area , tried with my phone couldn't get a clear pic , its very difficult , the bolts are too short for the new hitch that would have been ideal .
Be aware that the draw bar and the whole of any thing attached may be subject to weakening if heat is put into them by grinding and welding - my initial thoughts are to utilise a cold chisel and hammer to remove them, if you can get it in there.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
I wouldn't try twisting the bolts yet, you may, or probably will wreck the bolts or weaken them, is it possible to go shopping and buy a 1/2 drive, long reach, but cheap socket, the size of the bolt head, and also a 3 inch extension, and with a heavy hammer belt the socket on, over the tack welds, and the try turning the head with a long tee bar. The tacks may shear but the bolts won't be damaged.
I would assume from your description that taking off the nuts leaves leaves the bolts in place.
If you get some new nuts and put them on the bolts leaving a small recess giving the bolts/nuts a "B" Good hit with a Lump hammer may be enough to break those tack welds. But will you have room to take them out ?
The other alternative is a good old hacksaw and cut the bolts off and then drill out the remaining part of the Bolts, and as Possum suggests taking the last bits off with a Cold chisel.
Even if you do break them off there will be residue left behind hindering the new bolts positioning, remove the bottom checkerplate to get a better look, maybe the lot will have to come off.
The easiest way is to blow the bolt heads of with the cutting torch if you can keep most of the heat on the heads.Tidy up with a sharp cold chisel. A small amount of heat around the bolt holes should not matter but if you are worried make up a new plate for underneath.
