Removing Tang Bolts

[Greg Rodgers]

Greetings,

I don't think the compression tubes are welded to the doublers. I was able to remove the bolt holding the tangs for the running backs without much trouble. Some banging on a wrench attached to the bolt head started some movement. I then kept working the penetrant and tapping and the compression tube and bolt came out intact. The bolt was so jammed in the compression tube due to corrosion that I would have had to cut the tube off. I understand that aluminum oxide expands to something like 13 times the volume of the original aluminum so it swells up pretty tight.

Like I said, I had little problem with the bolt for the running backs, but I've had no luck with the bolts for the intermediates or uppers. I haven't even attempted the bolt for the lowers yet.

Thanks,

Greg