I am trying to loosen a bolt on an 220V heater coil that welded to the terminal when the 220V coil was short circuited.
The terminal cannot take much torque as it is attached directly to the heater coil.
Does anyone have any insight on how to loosen a welded bolt other than drilling the bolt out?
Dear Cody,
It may be possible to brake the weld: hopefully it is not a very good one!
But it all depends on the relative strength of the components: a picture or two would be useful.
My first try, would be to spray a thin oil (DW40?) into all the gaps. Having let that soak in, torque up (attempt to turn) the offending bolt whilst holding (in spanner / pliers / vice) the terminal. If repeated attempts (x100?) to turn anticlockwise and then clockwise fail to loosen it, drilling it might have to happen.
If you happen to have a spark eroding machine (EDM Die Sinking machine), that could be used to slowly burn away the bolt. But the whole terminal would need to be in a tank of kerosene!
Not sure any of this is going to help.
Best wishes. (Rob Davidson)
This has happened to me a few times. The only way I have separated them is to saw through the nut, (not the bolt) near to the heater wire. If you are careful the wire can be left in tact and the nut falls away. the bolt can then be withdrawn.
:-) That reminds me if my old honda motorbike days, philips head was always stripping.
The answer is to cut a slot for a normal screwdriver in the screw head, using a small hacksaw.
Be careful though. You need a deep enough slot to get the driver in, but too deep and the head will split.
If it does split, grind it flush and re tap the hole. You could also try screw extractor, these are left handed sharp bolts that will bite into the screw until it loosens. Most large hardware stores sell them.
Best of luck
Paul
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