Why when you start a job you say I wish I hadn't started!!

[dazzawhipple]

Help deep in the cack

I have for 3 nights trying to replace the fixed towbar for a detachable one

First one I cannot shift the bumper bolts managed to get at the bolts without removing the bumper (All I will say is Cowboy)

Wot ever I can do I could not shift the bolts on the chassis that connect the recovery eye and the bars of the towbar.

So I start to round the head, to cut a Long story short drilling didn't work

so to plan z cut to tube off and replace with new tubes


Why did i start this????


PS What is the OD of the bolts that the recovery eyes attach to??

Darren

[Range Rover Blues]

First thing, don't panic.  If it's the Southdown or scorpion removable it will use 12mm bolts, buy new ones.  You may need to use a 12mm drill to clear out the tubes before running the bolts in.  The original towbar will be 10mm bolts to the towing eyes and 12mm through the rear of the chassis.

Get an angle grinder, they are peanuts these days, and cut the heads off the bolts on the outside, make sure the sparks don't hit the fuel system.  Drive the bolts through the tube with a suitable drift, like a spare 10mm bolt held in a mole grip to protect fingers.

Assemble with copper grease.

[bullfrog]

When you have cut bolt heads off wait a few mins :arrow:  then spray with WD40,:arrow: Leave a bit more then start hammering out with bolt or drift. T :D his is common on vehicles with original set up.
I have just made my own demountable version. will post pics when finnished. :idea:

[Jas278]

DAZ, dont panic.....................ok , chassis bolts , buy some new bolts , find a local garage who have oxy.........heat gear, heat it up and they will tap out, I have never removed the rear bumper to fit a towbar, there is just enough room to get the nuts up above the crossmember, and feed the bolts through from underneath, ..........

[ade666]

well after owning my southdown tank guard for 3 years decided to fit it at the weekend. so snapped the first bumper bolt clean off other was a charm. then the chassis bolts. what a bunch of bas****s. in the end managed to start them moving with my stake ground anchor and sledgehammer. after that easy peasy. if i can do it mate anyone can

[Sheddy]

I did this job tonight!!

I'll start by telling you what I found right at the end of the job.  If you look at the tubes that the bolts go through from the rear of the vehicl there is a hole right at the top.  Just big enough to get the tube on a wd40 can into.  that will lubricate the shaft of the bolt.

What  I did on the drivers side was to take the head off the bolt and drift it through.  You'll find that the bolt will hit the tank so be prepared to cut it when its half way out so you have more clearance.

The passenger side .... that was fun!  I ended up cutting the step off with my angle grinder than cutting the remaining step shaft in half.  Using a power hacksaw, I cut between the towbar strap and the step - this takes some doing.  That got the towbar free.  Then I used brute force and ignorance to wiggle the two halves of the step shaft off which left the two stubs of the bolt poking through the tube.  A pair of mole grips either end and plenty of lube were used to introduce some movement into the shaft of the bolt which eventually pulled free.

Not my idea of a nice evening but the jobs done ..... but I no longer have a rear step!