How to get a nut off a stripped thread on the fuel tank

[mr_magicfingers]

Went to change the fuel filter today and found that one of the nuts on the filter plate has stripped and won't undo. Tried levering the plate to give it a bit more purchase but that didn't work.

Any suggestions for how to remove the nut without resorting to angle grinders etc.

Thanks.

 

[Nick Marshall]

how about..

trying to cut the nut with a dremmel, then putting back with a new nut and a few washers or a drilled out nut as the thread is usually ok nearer the end.

hope that is clear..

 

[ianf]

Careful with the dremel around fuel vapour, the tiny cutoff wheels still make sparks.

 

[Greger]

I used to have a nut splitter, and no it's not a pun, a wedge thing that you tighten with a spanner and it cuts through, no sparks.

You can try a small drill bit and drill into the side or end of the nut.

 

[STUBBS]

heating with a hot air gun

 

[Loiq]

pipe freezer kit can also work it loose

 

[duds]

You could always try

Try a junior or normal hacksaw blade and cut down the side of the nut or at a diagonal across the nut. You may need to take the blade out of the saw and just hold it in a piece of rag to get more flexibility.

Good luck

 

[Pauly S]

this may work

Lever the bolt with a screwdriver under the bolt whilst turning the bolt,or if this is not possible, use a piece of flat metal, sorta lollystick size,cut a vee init and then using a grinder,flat the two sides off, to make a claw hammer type effect, then ram this flat claw hammer type gadget under the offending bolt head, and again rotate whilst trying to get the thread to re grip and undo, prob whats happened is someone overtightened the bolt and stripped the thread whilst it was tightened up.atb Paul

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Lever the bolt with a screwdriver under the bolt whilst turning the bolt,or if this is not possible, use a piece of flat metal, sorta lollystick size,cut a vee init and then using a grinder,flat the two sides off, to make a claw hammer type effect, then ram this flat claw hammer type gadget under the offending bolt head, and again rotate whilst trying to get the thread to re grip and undo, prob whats happened is someone overtightened the bolt and stripped the thread whilst it was tightened up.atb Paul

I tried the screwdriver under it technique at the time and it didn't work. Would have been me that overtightened it, as I had the plate off last week, but I'm generally careful with that sort of thing and wasn't tightening it more than any of the others, just an unlucky one I guess. Naturally it's the most awkward of the nuts to get at, between the hoses, so awkward to get at with a hacksaw.

Might give the tank a thorough wash and cover the area around the nut with a wet towel then dremel it.

 

[Greger]

I hate to say it but you may end up removing a few more bits to get at it. If you cannot get in there to remove it easily you may end up with problems reassembling anyway.

Be careful with vapour in the tank, a neighbour a few years thought he had cleaned a car tank before working near it and up it went.

 

[Steptoe]

I used to have a nut splitter, and no it's not a pun, a wedge thing that you tighten with a spanner and it cuts through, no sparks.

You can try a small drill bit and drill into the side or end of the nut.

It's a 6mm nut.

 

[uncle dick]

A friend of mine is a blacksmith and he welds up fuel tanks whilst they're full. Set light to the petrol first and this will burn off the potentially explosive vapour.

We all watched in awe - from a distance

I'm not necessarily recommending this but it is 100% true.

Dick

 

[Pauly S]

A friend of mine is a blacksmith and he welds up fuel tanks whilst they're full. Set light to the petrol first and this will burn off the potentially explosive vapour.

We all watched in awe - from a distance

I'm not necessarily recommending this but it is 100% true.

Dick

trying running the car exhaust thru the tank using a vacuum cleaner hose before working on it, o rif you know someone witha welder try pumping the tank full of mig gas, its heavier than air so will sink,and doesnt support combustion and wont put exhaust water in the tank,lastly be very careful.
if the nut inside the tank has broke away, try soldering a new steel nut in place,using generally avail plumbing kit,but much sure you gaurd against leaving any flux residue in the tank, its highly corrosive,

 

[MarkShelley]

Went to change my filter today and 4 of the six threads are stripped and the nuts will not come off. Has anybody come up with any new fixes for this recently? Tomorrow I will try the bolt over the top appraoch, but the way things are going I don`t hold much hope!
Arse.

 

[MarkShelley]

To much relief I think I have sorted it. It has just stood up to a 10 mile test run anyway. I decided to have a go at getting the nuts off by levering the plate up whilst turning the nuts to pick up the thread and to my surprise it worked. I went out and bought some brand new M5 nyloc nuts and put 4 washers under each then anally tightened them in sequence. I say anally because I used progressively thinner feeler gauges to get it done evenly. I wanted to make sure I didn`t bugger it up as my capacity for future f**k ups is now reduced. It will probably get a good test next Monday when I head off to Cardiff.
On the test run it felt really quick, but then I have been commuting on my Innova this week!