Tow bar troubles

[AJT]

Hi All,

I'm trying to fit a Watling towbar but can't get the bumper off on one side as the nut is 'rounded off'. Any idea how to shift this please?

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Heat + stillsons....(and fit a new nut..) I hope the tow bar has rather more than bumper irons to support it - does it have legs that carry forwrads and then bolt through the 'chassis' legs and the boot floor?

[AJT]

Thanks...might have to resort to the garage as I don't have heat / will inevitably burn the bumper paint. Yes the tow bar does have a rather hefty bracket that goes back from the main bar and is attached with bolts. Just for a small box trailer....manure for the plot.

[bmcecosse]

Gas blowlamp is all that you require - worth it's weight in gold !

[kennatt]

And the stillson

[IslipMinor]

Stillsons would be worth a try first on their own. Seeing that you live in/near Reading, if you don't have any and are coming anywhere close to Oxford, pop in and we can use mine!

[bmcecosse]

Be aware there is a risk that the end of the bumper support rod may shear off - it really would be an idea to apply heat to the nut (and/or release oil) before heaving too hard on it!

[IslipMinor]

Yes, I would use releasing oil, then the stillsons, and have a blowlamp if needed!

[John.n]

or you could use a nut breaker
Regrads,
John

[AJT]

Hi,

Thanks All. I'm thinking of having a crack with a nut splitter before taking the heat option. If at all possible I don't want to risk any damage to the thread that might occur with a Stillson.

[chesney]

I find nut splitters fiercely underrated as a tool.
They were invaluable for my '42 GPW resto, some of those bolts hadn't been budged in ~70 years

[bmcecosse]

I've got to laugh - you all tut tut and frown when I suggest a wee tap with a chisel to loosen a large out-of-sight nut - yet here the use of a 'nut splitter' is being praised to the heavens !!

[NOEL]

I fitted a similar tow bar to my Minor, its well worth the effort, what others have suggested makes sense, I would guess someone may have previously tried to remove the nut in the past , depending on your toolkit you may find some stilsons too large to get into the gap between the bumper and the nut, I had a similar issue with a Mini years ago and solved it by filing the nut to a size suitable to gain purchase with a ring spanner, when you finally get it off you wil find there is restricted space to tighten the new nut up due to the bracket fittings, a ring spanner or thin jawed water pump pliers will certainly help here. Good luck

[mike.perry]

I am in Tilehurst which is even closer to Reading and I have a selection of tools and a big hammer, and tow bars on my Minors. PM me.