How do I remove a stripped nut?

[nomad85]

I overtightened one of my axle nuts, now it will keep spinning in either direction. I have tried putting another nut over it, but there isn't enough room to get any bite.
How can I get this off without hurting my bike/motor?

 

[Link]

The nut slips in the wrench? Hmm...

They make some things to take care of that. I can't remember what they're called, though. They look sorta like normal socket wrench pieces, but they have sort of a reverse auger inside that cuts into a nut to turn it. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

How good are you with a Dremel cutoff wheel? You might be able to slice off two sides of the nut and make them flat again. Then you could just get it off with a smaller wrench. Or use it to cut a deep slot into one side and try to turn it with a flathead. :?

 

[nomad85]

Actually its the nuts threads that are stripped I can turn the nut, but it just turns, I wish it was the outside, then I could just use vice grips.

 

[Eric G]

I'd take the dremel with a cutoff wheel and cut into one of the flat sides of the nut and go deep but not as deep as to get to the thread then dremel the other side.After that take a flat head screwdriver and jam it into one of the dremel cuts as far as it'll go then try to twist the screwdriver and with any luck the nut will spread enough that it'll slip off.

It's just an idea and I've never done this before but it's what I would try as a last resort.Good luck!

Eric

 

[Link]

Wait...Why's it on the inside of the drops? :|

 

[slayer]

is it the nut that is stripped so now you can t get a grip with the wrench ...did you try with a vise grip ...if you are being careful and place strong enough with enough room to pull it out it should work fine... if it is the tread you are talking about because you overtightened it then it is another story.

 

[slayer]

it is a sad story ...l

 

[Ypedal]

Uhm.. so you can turn the nut.. but it just spins on the axle without catching any threads to back out or in right ?

Take a flat head screw driver.. jam it in between the axle nut and the fork to push the nut towards the threads. turn slowly and it should grab. You may have to gently tap the screw driver with a rubber hammer to get enough pressure on it..

 

[nomad85]

Uhm.. so you can turn the nut.. but it just spins on the axle without catching any threads to back out or in right ?

Right, I'll try that, thanks. If I cant get that to work maybe I'll get a picture to make it simpler to explain.

 

[Ypedal]

Like this.

 

[nomad85]

Oh, I was trying it all wrong, thanks for that pic, its raining hard now but I will try that asap, thanks again.

 

[Ypedal]

If it does not come out easily..

1- Don't panic
2- Don't over-react
3- Don't freak out.... it's gonna be ok ! :lol:

Push hard with the screw driver and slowly turn the axle nut.. if it reallllly don't grab.. tap the back of the screw driver carefully ( don't break apart your fork type thing ) and twist the scrwe driver as you turn the nut a 1/4 turn at a time.. tap.. turn.. tap.. turn.. anyone remember " line dancing ? " ..

 

[csmarr]

First, understand that the nut is trash. You want to save the Axle. If you have a dremel cut it in the center of two opposite flats use a chisel or screwdriver to break the nut into two pieces or open one side far enough to remove. The split on the opposite side will weaken the nut. OR get a nut splitter. hopefully threads are not too messed up. Others here have found lug nuts that will match the thread and might be a little longer than the originals. If needed you can space the replacement nut out a bit with a second lock washer

 

[Ypedal]

word of caution on the dremel idea, you gotta do what you gotta do but be aware that dremel and cutting disks = fine metal dust .. right next to the bearing on the axle ( it is a sealed bearing so that's a bonus.. ) but just so you are aware of it.. :wink:

 

[John in CR]

With that screwdriver approach it looks like 3 hands are needed, because you need to double up on the screwdrivers to keep the nut straight and prevent taking it off cross-threaded, which will create added problems. You mentioned vice grips, so I'd try them first. Just get a good grip, pull and turn at the same time, all the while making sure the nut stays square with the shaft.

I'm working out a stripped shaft problem right now on a motor that arrived that way. To solve it I'm making sleeves to screw onto the shafts that result in a 25mm diameter with 20mm flats and modifying and strengthening the dropouts so no torque arms are needed.

Is it normal to cut slots for the wires on the threaded portion instead of cutting them in the flats? Cutting the slot there makes that portion of the shaft useless as far as threading is concerned. While I understand that they want to make these motors fit standard dropouts, that whole connection is poorly engineered and a class action suit waiting to happen as ebikes gain popularity. Just make the shafts larger diameter, so proper gauge wires fit through anyway. So what if modification and strengthening of the dropouts becomes part of a standard install, since it's cheap enough to get done and necessary anyway. For rear mount motors an even better solution would be to have the motor come with strong attachments to the both frame tubes on both sides and not even use the existing dropouts at all other than as a guide for proper alignment and to bear some weight but no torque.

Sorry about the soapbox, but I'm sure the problem is common and wheels coming off can be devastating.

 

[nomad85]

Thanks for all the advice, I am sure one of these methods will work When I do get it off, what is a good level of tightness for the nuts, I had thought the tighter the better, but that is obviously not the case... I have a 407 rear with a 20A Immediate start controller if it makes a difference(running at 48V)

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

another good pic in this thread.
could pm the op for any pointers, should still be fresh in his mind.
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4082

 

[nomad85]

I got the nut removed with the screwdriver method. The whole axle is stripped except for a small part right next to the dropout, I could only fit a flat washer in between the dropout and the nut... Its on tight, but I don't know how safe it is, I tested it out and it works normally. Is there something I can do to make it safer? or should i just get a new motor? ::wonders:How would a 405 do in a 700c wheel...)

 

[docnjoj]

A competent machinist can re-thread the axle side! I did this and it was rethreaded to a round 3/8. I used a torque arm on the other side axle, and all would have been fine if the da*n Crystalyte torque arm hadnt failed! Junk! I now have EVTech torque arms and they really fit well! Different motor, of course!
otherDoc

 

[dirty_d]

i wouldn't even try to screw it off it will probably ruin the axle, id just cut the nut in half like other people suggested.

 

[kbarrett]

Use a stack of thick washers to cover up the stripped thread portion, and then tighten down a new nut on top of those.