home and gardening

[spike237]

How do I stop a coach bolt turning when I try to tighten the nut

[carlton23]

Screw the nut mate----screw the nut, you can`t be serious, can you????

[vulcan]

I assume your problem is the square shank below the head has "rounded" and the bolt is turning with the nut. if the domed head has a deep enough side, use molegrips to hold the bolt.If this cannot be done the only other way I know is to cut a groove across the head with a hacksaw[using two blades side by side to give a decent cut] and use a large screwdriver to hold it.

[Clanad]

... Or, if the end of the bolt (called carriage bolts here in the U.S.) opposite the head is accesible, you can use a pair of Vice-grip pliers to hold it while tightening with a wrench... (You might call them something different in the U.K. Here in the U.S. they look like this http://www.all-spec.com/products/VG7WR.html?ut m_source=yahooshopping&utm_medium=feed ). This will probably damage the thresds slightly, so don't screw the adjustment on the Vice-grips too tightly.

Another "fix" that works pretty well, is to cut a small washer of rubber out of any available material (I use an old inner tube from a tire (tyre?) or even a small rubber washer or "O" ring, fitting it snugly over the square shoulder of the bolt. This gives enough friction on the sides of the stripped out hole to hold it for tightening. Helps to thoroughly lubricate the bolt and nut if replacing the original... better yet use a new replacement... Best of luck!

(I like the idea of cutting a screw slot in the head, but sometimes the head isn't accessible when in it's intended position.)

[vulcan]

some good tips there Clanad, I'll keep them in mind.
not sure where molegrips came from, I did mean vice grips,thanks for keeping me right. :-)

[paddywak]

I've always known them as Mole Grips, vulcan, as one of the earliest and most prolific of this type of plier were designed & made by the firm K. Mole & Son