Stripped nut on idler pully

[damagnan]

Well, the title says it all (or most of it)...trying to loosen up the AC compressor to change out the belt (for the first time in my new-to-me '91 Land Cruiser).

The pully I was working on is about 6" below the compressor; I tried to loosen the center bolt on the pully and it stripped almost immediately (maybe was already partly stripped?).

So...what are my options at this point? Most (if not all) of the shoulders are very rounded now.

Any help would be, well, helpful!

Thanks in advance,

-David

 

[Michael Hanson]

Vise gripps. MIKe

 

[arndog123]

Vise gripps. MIKe

x2 and a hammer.

 

[damagnan]

x2 and a hammer.

Haha. Yeah, that's all I could come up with.

Thanks!!!

-David

 

[bwr9300]

PB blaster

 

[80t0ylc]

.............So...what are my options at this point? Most (if not all) of the shoulders are very rounded now.

Any help would be, well, helpful!

Thanks in advance,

-David

I just replaced both idlers on my 1FZ, but the AC idler may be the same as on your 3FE, check with cdan. Anyway, my point is, it may be the nut or the bolt/post that the idler rides on that is stripped. You get both and the pulley and bearing when you order from cdan. The only things you don't get are the fan belt and long adjustment bolt. But you can order those if you need them. I had 225K miles on mine and that's why I replaced both. Just something to consider.
Edit: just realized you're new. Welcome! Cdan is IH8MUD's unofficial parts guru. He's at American Toyota in Albuquerque, NM. 1-800-432-6668, mention IH8MUD and you get a discount.

 

[damagnan]

Tom,

Thanks for the info--it's the head on the idler pulley bolt that's stripped (hence the vise grips comments above). HOWEVER, given that I can't keep messing around with an un-loosable bolt, I might just look to CDan.

Thanks again, all.

-David

 

[Dan2722]

Welcome Tom.

I had this same problem and the nut was so seized onto the bolt that vise grips were just shredding the nut. I ended up taking a hack saw blade in a gloved hand and cutting through the bolt between the pulley and the bracket. I fortunately had a new pulley and bolt on hand.

 

[80t0ylc]

Welcome Tom.

I had this same problem and the nut was so seized onto the bolt that vise grips were just shredding the nut. I ended up taking a hack saw blade in a gloved hand and cutting through the bolt between the pulley and the bracket. I fortunately had a new pulley and bolt on hand.

A carefully placed & operated sawzall would make quick work of that bolt. If you can get a hacksaw blade in between the bracket and pulley, the sawzall blade should also fit. But, like you said - make sure you have replacement in hand.

 

[informationjunky]

you can also cut new flats on the nut with a dremmel

 

[damagnan]

Thanks all - I think I'll eventually do the chop-n-replace method (ANY excuse to use a sawsall is a good excuse, if you ask me).

I'll post pics if/when I do it (always chasing the elusive Spare-Time monster...)

Best,

-David

 

[jlg32281]

Get these, they work great. I've used them on all kinds of stripped nuts and bolts.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...uipment&cName=Hand+Tools&sName=Mechanic+Tools

 

[damagnan]

JLG - nice idea!

thx,

-David

 

[jlg32281]

JLG - nice idea!

thx,

-David

I love them, they've saved me hours on all kinds of projects. I'm sure there are other brands out there that work as well, but I've personally used the Craftsman ones and highly recommend them. Good luck.

 

[reconranger]

you can also cut new flats on the nut with a dremmel

x2. A little dremel action helped w/ stripped nut/bolt heads.

 

[jlg32281]

x2. A little dremel action helped w/ stripped nut/bolt heads.

This does work, however it's very tedious and the purchase of the right tool solves rounded nuts forever, no getting the dremel out every time.