Bolts To Studs On A BX Front Axle

[dlsmith]

Every time I have to remove and remount a tire/sheel on the front of my BX I curse them for using bolts instead of studs. So, I bought a 12" piece of 9/16" X18 threaded rod and lug nuts to replace them. I cut the rod into eight 1 1/2" long pieces and cleaned up the threads on the ends and made sure the nuts threaded on freely. This afternoon, I picked up the front of the tractor and pulled each wheel and installed the studs with a liberal amount of blue Loctite, let it set up, applied some antisieze to the threads and bolted the wheels back on. Now I can just line up the studs and holes, slip the wheel on and torque down the nuts with no profane language.
Yes, I see the bulge in the sidewall of the tire, it's coming back off on Monday and will be replaced.

 

[Klaus Koenig]

What is the hardness grade of the threaded rod you used?

 

[85Hokie]

What is the hardness grade of the threaded rod you used?

The first thought I had ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[dlsmith]

What is the hardness grade of the threaded rod you used?

Grade B7, 125,000 PSI according to McMaster-Carr. And I have no qualms that those four studs aren't strong enough to do the job.

 

[mikester]

How often do you remove tires and wheels?

I think the last time I had to take any wheels off it was to install a cab on my tractor 6 years ago.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Outstanding idea sir!

My daughters Jeep and our old VW had those damn bolts instead of studs and every time I have/had to the remove the wheels it is/was such a PITA reinstalling the wheels.

I have never removed my tractor tires yet, but if I do, I might steal your idea.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

The threaded rod might be #2 or 5, doesn't really matter as 'hub centric',no huge stress on the bolts or studs.

A little bit of neverseize on wheel nuts/studs and they always come off

 

[thebicman]

Don't use neverseize on anything that has to be torqued. It acts as a lubricant and you will end up over torquing.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

not if you adjust your torque wrench to the proper setting when using nevereize.
There is a 'correction' factor.

Big issue is idiots using air impacts guns ( or battery powered ones) to zip the nuts on.

 

[skeets]

You are right Jay, my wife had tires put on at Sears, you know how long ago that was, and she got a flat and called to change the tire on her Durango. Long story short, I had to have the car towed because I couldnt get the lug nuts off. Me and the service manager had a come to Jesus talk, about torqueing the nuts. He called the guy in that changed her tires a week before, and the smart ass looked me right inthe eye and said that why I carry a 3 foot piece of pipe in my truck if I have to change a tire. When I got up out of the chair he left, anyways Sears replaced the tire, and retorqued all the lug nuts. Ya know there are some days !!!

 

[fried1765]

The threaded rod might be #2 or 5, doesn't really matter as 'hub centric',no huge stress on the bolts or studs.

A little bit of neverseize on wheel nuts/studs and they always come off

It should be noted that this manner of shade tree stud use may be OK for tractors (low speed), but is an absolute NO-NO for cars, and trucks!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

why ? I've got 5+ decades of doing this, millions of miles both on and real off road, ZERO problems
pretty sure others do this as well

 

[shelkol]

That's why I bought press in studs and cut the press in part off. Truck studs that should be more Than strong enough for my BX. I also used red locktite, I think it is more permanent

 

[DustyRusty]

I used grade 8 bolts from McMaster-Carr and locked them in with Loctite. When I sold the tractor I gave it with the spacers because it was more work to remove them than the bolts, nuts, and spacers were worth.

 

[Trimley]

If I were to change out the fronts, I'd drill the holes for real studs.

No disrespect, All-Thread with blue (any) Loctite is hokey. In a pinch/temp, OK. I would be doing real studs if I was going that route.

Good practice run.....

 

[GreensvilleJay]

curious to know when the REAR hubs will be done ?

 

[dlsmith]

How often do you remove tires and wheels?

I think the last time I had to take any wheels off it was to install a cab on my tractor 6 years ago.

The front tires on my BX seem to be magnets for anything that is sharp. In the five years I have had it, I think I've had six flat tires, the last one from a piece of random wire which I have no idea where it came from. And like I said, every time I had to take one of them off, profanity ensued.

 

[Trimley]

curious to know when the REAR hubs will be done ?

 

[DustyRusty]

I like the red anodizing, but would prefer to have it done in orange!

 

[Trimley]

I like the red anodizing, but would prefer to have it done in orange!

Orange would be nice. I was pleased to see them in (1-1/4") red, rather than the standard black or silver.