• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

new track belting

J

Jess

Member
im putting new belting on and i am having a heck of a time loosening and tightening the bolts. does anyone have any tricks? the nut is 11/16 and i cant get a socket to engage squarely on the nut because of the angle of the cleat. any ideas?
i cut down a box end wrench and thats kind of working but there has to be an easier way
 
Torch/new bolts?

Many do this and use Stainless Steel hardware. Next time is will be easier....

Could you grind one side of the socket down, and get it to fit? Use a cheap socket...Use penetrating oil hours in advance will help too. Maybe a torch to just heat the nuts up good, then remove.

Tough job, no one really likes, but all must go through eventually.

Regards, Kirk
 
Sounds like your homemade wrench is maybe the best solution. I never discovered an easy trick to removing the nuts.

My tracks were held together with carriage bolts, so there's no bolt head to grab, and they'd just spin in the holes. A torch was too stinky when it burned the belting. A grinder took too long, and often nicked the grouser. I ended up having to bust most of the nuts off with an impact gun. I used a blunt pointed hammer. Held at 45 degrees, it splits the nut downward. Then I'd pop the end of the bolt and it would often shoot right out.

I got new hdwr from McMaster Carr.
 
For J style cleats.
Learned this from a pro that has done many.
Buy several vice grips, they get hot and wear out.
One person heats one side of the nut (the flat part) with oxy-fuel torch, heat it fast to red hot. This breaks the rust and expands the nut.
Second person clamps the vice grip onto the nut and keeps the vice grip under control as it wedges against the inside of the cleat channel.
Third person uses the impact wrench (air or electric doesn't matter) to remove the bolt.
This guy and his team have done many tracks and with great success.

I worked at a ski area that would not use this method and they struggled for weeks on one track with four helpers using custom made wrenches because they were afraid of flames.

-Pat
 
when i changed mine out i had the same problem...i ended up putting a real small tack on the heads with my welder.doesn't take much and the bolt can be hammered out after the cleat is off...Bill w
 
i made a new tool and so far its working good. in just tightning loose bolts at the moment but once the snow melts ill be replacing the belts so if anyone on the forum sells belting hit me up.
the tool i made consists of a diamond shaped piece of 1/4" plate with a 11/16 socket welded on one end and a 3/8 square drive cut in the other end, i then tacked a 3" 3/8 extension to give me a handle. worked for the most part but then i cut the socket by about a 1/4" and now it works good. if the nut turns somewhat easy i can hold the wrench if its super tight i can rest tool against cleat to tighten or loosen. tomorow my buddy is coming over to hepl me finish whats left of this track then do the other track. wish me luck! thanks for all the info
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top