How to: Flange nuts

[Groundhog]

We all have struggled with the inner nuts on the 3 bolt bearing flanges. A swivel socket jams up and comes off. Normal wrenches dont have enough swing room. It is just plain crusty adown there, and everything is in the way....., well I found a much easier way to get those buggers! I recently tore down a crusty old 1970 Max II, all 6 removed in ~2 hours with this tool. It was able to get to all 18 locations, and get at least 1 click no matter what spot!

http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae53/stoogeman1/DSC05081.jpg

Great investment! No longer a job filled with anger and @#%&*!

[Toynut]

Looks like the ratchet mechanism can use a little TLC....how about a little oil or light grease after a thorough cleaning?


BTW,
Thanks for the tip!

[mark m.]

Here's a tip. Next time you pull off one or even all the bearing flanges take the inner flange and tack weld the heads of the correct length carriage bolts to the flange. Now insert the flange with the carriage bolts attached from the inside so the bolts stick outside. This eliminates having to access the inside of the tub. It now is a breeze to change bearings.

[Mike]

Are you guys putting the carriage bolts through from the outside and the nuts on the inside of the tub / frame?

Mark, where are you installing the flange at? Do you not put both three bolt flanges outside of the tub?

[LarryW]

I think Mark is saying us an extra flange and weld bolts to it. Then put it inside the body with bolts sticking out so you only have to mess with the nuts on the outside. That is a good idea but possibly over 20 years the threads might get rusty but that could happen being inside the body too.

Here is my tip/trick.....I removed my frame from body. Mounted the axles/bearings back on the frame. Then welded the bearing flange nuts to the frame rails on the inside.

[mark m.]

Mark, where are you installing the flange at? Do you not put both three bolt flanges outside of the tub?

Oops. Sorry guys. I did forget to say I used an extra flange for the inside of the tub (Larry caught on, thanks). If you go this route that inside flange will also have to be trimmed slightly to fit inside the frame rail. I did this with an angle grinder. Only a small flat two places 180 degrees apart.

No worry about rust Larry as I used stainless steel carriage bolts and nuts

[Mike]

Thanks for the clarification. I knew that I had to be missing something. I have never put the nuts on the inside of the tub. I have always installed the carriage bolts from the inside of the frame and put the nuts on the outside. The frame and body typically don't line up exactly so that actually helps keep the bolts in place while putting the flange and bearing on.