Removing tie downs in m1101

[dmark4u]

Hello everyone I'm in the middle of applying line-x to my M1101 trailer and have ran into a small issue
I tried removing the tie downs and cant seem to find the proper Hex size bit .
I have both metric and imperial and none fit exactly the closest I found was #5 and it spun and stripped the bolt

Any input or tricks would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[dmark4u]

So I figured out that it's a hex size 5.5 which is very hard to find in a socket When I did finally find one it snapped right away first bolt.Any ideas I spray them with penetrating oil several times prior My next idea is to heat them up don't really like that option but I'm out of ideas

 

[zout]

Apply heat

 

[cyclic]

Just tape them off. I'd go with the entire round part so that the liner is just over the hold down circle, making it drain easier.

 

[SignalNco]

Try some PB Blaster, or if you can find it in your area, Sili Kroil made by the Kano laboratories. I have used Sili Kroil to remove some very stubborn assemblies. Of course as stated above, a little heat wouldn't hurt either.

 

[KansasBobcat]

I agree with cyclic. Not worth the trouble to remove. I hate torx and hex head fasteners. They were designed by the people who make the bits that keep breaking. If you really want to remove them be prepared to drill out some of the bolts with ruined heads.

 

[dmark4u]

Yes I agree it would be best to leave them in and tape around but it wouldn't look good at all. The line-x will be black and the trailer is sand so I want to remove them and paint them black to match.
I've busted 3 sockets and tried heating the bolt to bright red and nothing. I will cut them out and replace with stainless hardware.
I don't know what the engineers where thinking when they put a 5.5mm hex socket on a half inch bolt to begin with.

 

[cyclic]

Easy, they were thinking...................................... you don't need to remove these to paint them.

Clean them up and hit them with some black epoxy paint. Let them dry and then bed line it.

 

[KansasBobcat]

To add to what Cyclic said, often these are fasteners that they do not want "Private Snuffy" messing with in the motor pool!

 

[Joneswill]

Is it possible to remove the entire tie down assembly by drilling out the rivers and pop river a circular plate over he hole. Basically eliminate the entire tie down.

 

[Joneswill]

I mean “rivets”