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Author Topic:   Lugnuts Rusted on Trailer

solongdarling posted 03-22-2014 06:04 PM ET (US)
Doing annual maintenance and noticed tire needs replacement, but am not able to remove because lug nuts are so rusted I can't remove them. I've used the biggest lug wrench I can find...so what can I do now?
Tom C posted 03-22-2014 06:28 PM ET (US)
I just went through the same with an older Whaler just accquired. As a last resort I borrowed a lug buster tool from a local tire shop. Worked like a charm but first give the lugs several squirts with WD 40, Blaster or some other lubricant. Good luck.
Chuck Tribolet posted 03-22-2014 08:13 PM ET (US)
When you put it back together, grease the stud. If you have
trailer brakes, use disk brake grease, otherwise Evinrude
Triple-Guard.
Chuck
Tom W Clark posted 03-22-2014 08:27 PM ET (US)
Use a penetrating oil on the lugs first. Use what you have on hand. WD-40, 3-in-One Oil, whatever. I find that Aero Kroil is superior to most.
Let it sit overnight, then try again with a *good* lug wrench. I like the old fashioned cross handle lug wrenches like this one:
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/ Lug-Wrenches-SAE-Metric-3-4-13-16-7-8-17-mm/_/R-SPC35661_0006404525
Not only can you use both arms but you get a lot of leverage as well.
Because these types of wrenches have four different sizes in one tool, they are great for use when towing your trailer because the tow vehicle and trailer often do not have the same lug nut size.
Buy new lug nuts. Do not use the old ones.
When putting new lug nuts on the studs, take Chuck's advice and grease the studs. Use whatever grease you have on hand, the thicker the better but don't get hung up on a particular type.
BRP/OMC/Evinrude Triple Guard is good because it is thick, but Mercury/Quicksilver Special 101 with Teflon is better and even more tenacious. I use 101 exclusively now for things like propeller shafts and wheel studs.
If all you have on hand is wheel bearing grease, that is fine too.
deepwater posted 03-23-2014 10:26 AM ET (US)
Marvel Mystery oil and a hair drier or heat gun,,If they are as bad as you make it ,,Replace the whole thing,,Deep pitting only weakens the whole unit the ,,You could loose more than just a tire
solongdarling posted 03-23-2014 06:45 PM ET (US)
great Ideas guys...thanks!
TransAm posted 03-24-2014 08:05 AM ET (US)
Get yourself a $25 propane torch at home depot. Heat the lug nut, spray PB blaster (it will smoke but not ignite) and the oil will be drawn further into the threads. Use an impact gun...this will help break the seal between the stud and the nut....couple seconds in reverse, couple seconds in forward until you feel the lug nut start to move.
May need to apply heat a time or 2 depending on the level of rust. If you use a large lug wrench or breaker bar you should also try to "rock" the lug nut...forward and reverse to break it free or you risk snapping the stud.
jimp posted 03-24-2014 11:28 AM ET (US)
I had that problem years ago and tried all these methods. Gave up and towed the boat to the local tire shop and asked them if they could loosen them for me. No problem and no charge. They were happy with a "thank-you".
Since then, every fall I've removed the wheels (and blocked the trailer as it sits in a large puddle in the winter and the area freezes several inches deep, I don't want the tires frozen in place) and "exercised" the lug BOLTS, oiled them and put them back. I do it again in the spring and every couple of years buy new bolts.
andygere posted 03-27-2014 10:55 AM ET (US)
Once you get them loose using the methods described above, inspect the threads of the studs and clean them up with a wire brush or Scotch Brite pad. Your hubs may be really rusty as well, and due for replacement. If they are in bad shape, now's the time to replace them.
Buy some new lug nuts, and lubricate the threads with anti-seize. This is the stuff made for keeping parts from rusting or bonding together. Grease will do in a pinch, but a small tube of this will last a long time and it won't fail you.
http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/lubricants/ specialty-lubricants-anti-seize/permatex-anti-seize-lubricant-detail
When you replace the lug nuts, get some good ones. Here's a thread with a good discussion on what to buy.
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/020302.html

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Author	Topic: Lugnuts Rusted on Trailer
solongdarling	posted 03-22-2014 06:04 PM ET (US) Doing annual maintenance and noticed tire needs replacement, but am not able to remove because lug nuts are so rusted I can't remove them. I've used the biggest lug wrench I can find...so what can I do now?
Tom C	posted 03-22-2014 06:28 PM ET (US) I just went through the same with an older Whaler just accquired. As a last resort I borrowed a lug buster tool from a local tire shop. Worked like a charm but first give the lugs several squirts with WD 40, Blaster or some other lubricant. Good luck.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 03-22-2014 08:13 PM ET (US) When you put it back together, grease the stud. If you have trailer brakes, use disk brake grease, otherwise Evinrude Triple-Guard. Chuck
Tom W Clark	posted 03-22-2014 08:27 PM ET (US) Use a penetrating oil on the lugs first. Use what you have on hand. WD-40, 3-in-One Oil, whatever. I find that Aero Kroil is superior to most. Let it sit overnight, then try again with a good lug wrench. I like the old fashioned cross handle lug wrenches like this one: http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/ Lug-Wrenches-SAE-Metric-3-4-13-16-7-8-17-mm/_/R-SPC35661_0006404525 Not only can you use both arms but you get a lot of leverage as well. Because these types of wrenches have four different sizes in one tool, they are great for use when towing your trailer because the tow vehicle and trailer often do not have the same lug nut size. Buy new lug nuts. Do not use the old ones. When putting new lug nuts on the studs, take Chuck's advice and grease the studs. Use whatever grease you have on hand, the thicker the better but don't get hung up on a particular type. BRP/OMC/Evinrude Triple Guard is good because it is thick, but Mercury/Quicksilver Special 101 with Teflon is better and even more tenacious. I use 101 exclusively now for things like propeller shafts and wheel studs. If all you have on hand is wheel bearing grease, that is fine too.
deepwater	posted 03-23-2014 10:26 AM ET (US) Marvel Mystery oil and a hair drier or heat gun,,If they are as bad as you make it ,,Replace the whole thing,,Deep pitting only weakens the whole unit the ,,You could loose more than just a tire
solongdarling	posted 03-23-2014 06:45 PM ET (US) great Ideas guys...thanks!
TransAm	posted 03-24-2014 08:05 AM ET (US) Get yourself a $25 propane torch at home depot. Heat the lug nut, spray PB blaster (it will smoke but not ignite) and the oil will be drawn further into the threads. Use an impact gun...this will help break the seal between the stud and the nut....couple seconds in reverse, couple seconds in forward until you feel the lug nut start to move. May need to apply heat a time or 2 depending on the level of rust. If you use a large lug wrench or breaker bar you should also try to "rock" the lug nut...forward and reverse to break it free or you risk snapping the stud.
jimp	posted 03-24-2014 11:28 AM ET (US) I had that problem years ago and tried all these methods. Gave up and towed the boat to the local tire shop and asked them if they could loosen them for me. No problem and no charge. They were happy with a "thank-you". Since then, every fall I've removed the wheels (and blocked the trailer as it sits in a large puddle in the winter and the area freezes several inches deep, I don't want the tires frozen in place) and "exercised" the lug BOLTS, oiled them and put them back. I do it again in the spring and every couple of years buy new bolts.
andygere	posted 03-27-2014 10:55 AM ET (US) Once you get them loose using the methods described above, inspect the threads of the studs and clean them up with a wire brush or Scotch Brite pad. Your hubs may be really rusty as well, and due for replacement. If they are in bad shape, now's the time to replace them. Buy some new lug nuts, and lubricate the threads with anti-seize. This is the stuff made for keeping parts from rusting or bonding together. Grease will do in a pinch, but a small tube of this will last a long time and it won't fail you. http://www.permatex.com/products-2/product-categories/lubricants/ specialty-lubricants-anti-seize/permatex-anti-seize-lubricant-detail When you replace the lug nuts, get some good ones. Here's a thread with a good discussion on what to buy. http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/020302.html