"Factory-tight" bolt in my washer: Won't budge!

[Beartracks]

I'm trying to get the rotor and stator out of the back of my LG washer to change out the Hall sensor, but the bolt holding the rotor on is majorly stuck. Not gunky or rusty, clean as a whistle -- just won't budge. This is my first time in there doing any work, so this bolt has never been loosened. I'm using a regular ratchet socket wrench, to no avail. I even tried banging the wrench handle with a hammer, and applying my weight to the wrench handle by pushing on it with my foot from a standing position. This thing is ridiculously tight.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking about getting a t-bar sliding breaker bar type of socket wrench, so I can get more leverage with the longer handle and also be able to apply force from both sides at once -- but don't want to spend the money if there's some obvious hack I'm missing. Plus, given my efforts so far, I'm not confident this would work either. Why would a factory-tight bolt be this tight??

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[Ponietz]

1. WD-40

[Kali]

2. lubrication

have you used any?

[Nittersing]

3. Do you have a torch?

That could help expand parts enough to do the trick?

(After trying the above mentioned lubricants.)

[UpInArms]

4. Don't have any suggestion, but

have you looked for a YouTube diy for it?

Sometimes they have solutions

[Beartracks]

19. Yep, I did that so I'd know what I was getting into. However, of course...

... the guy is like "This bolt won't be very tight....." and he just ratchets away and comes right off.

The bastard.

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[GiqueCee]

28. Might be time to get on the LG website...

... and ask if that bolt is reverse threaded. Another poster suggested that, and I've run into them a few times.

[drray23]

5. According to what I found

This bolt is very tight because its Subject to high torque. It's also locked with glue.

Because this bolt is subjected to high-torque spinning, it is typically fastened very tightly from the factory and secured with thread locker. Keep these details in mind when replacing your rotor:Loosening (Removal): Use a 17 mm socket and a breaker bar or an impact wrench to break the bolt free. If using a standard wrench, hold the rotor firmly with your hand and apply a quick, hard strike (or tap with a mallet) to the end of the wrench in a counter-clockwise direction.Thread Locker: Always apply a fresh drop of blue thread locker to the threads of the bolt before reinstallation. This prevents the bolt from vibrating loose during wash cycles.

[Beartracks]

21. I did try whacking it with a pipe wrench, since my hammer wasn't readily available.

I do think a longer socket wrench handle - a la a breaker bar -- would be helpful for this.

[Beartracks]

37. So smack the wrench handle BETWEEN my hand and the end that's on bolt?

I previously tried smacking the far end of the wrench handle, and I was not applying any manual force at the time.

[Beartracks]

18. Whaaat? Although, this tracks with my experience. The bolt acts like it's fused to the rotor metal.

I did try striking with a hammer (well, a pipe wrench), but it didn't do anything. I suppose this would be more effective if I had a breaker bar, as there'd be more leverage for it to do some good.

[Beartracks]

22. Some people have suggested PB Blaster. Would that work on glue, or is it only for rust/gunk?

[Floyd R. Turbo]

6. If you have a length of pvc pipe that you can slip on the ratchet handle that will add leverage. Good luck!

[dem4decades]

7. I like the idea of sliding the rachet handle into a long pipe.

That should make easy work of it. Leverage is you friend.

[Shambala]

8. You can dry heating it up with a blow dryer for a bit.

That worked for me for a stubborn bolt a while ago.

[Dragonfly64]

32. Same for me

I had to replace the motor control board in my washing machine a couple of months ago and one screw just wouldn't move at all. No tools and no amount of WD-40 would budge it. Heated it with a blow dryer for a minute or two and it came right out.

[irisblue]

9. Lots of WD40?

[House of Roberts]

10. How big is this bolt?

How big is the socket on your ratchet?

[Beartracks]

15. 17 mm

[LuckyCharms]

11. Try tapping the bolt head with a hammer...

This will "shock" the threads and that may be enough to loosen it.

You can try torching it a bit to apply heat (if it is in a safe position to do so).

If that doesn't work, get some "PB Blaster" and let it soak into the threads for awhile and try again.

If that doesn't work...try a 6 point socket rather than a 12 point, along with a breaker bar.

[Beartracks]

13. Interesting point about 6-pt vs 12-pt

Mine's a 12-pt, I believe, and by the time I gave up on this thing last night I could see that the edges of the bolt head were starting to wear. The LAST thing I need happening is the bolt head getting rounded off!

[LuckyCharms]

16. I don't know if you can get your hands on a 6 point today...

but if you can, you will have less chance of stripping the bolt head.

Sounds like you have a real bear of a bolt on your hands!

Good luck!

[Beartracks]

20. Thanks! Timing is everything, right?

After all these years, I may be taking laundry back to my mom's house. LOL

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[Flash953]

12. Other things to look at...

Of course you know this already but the stator needs not move. I like to put a pipe on my ratchet to extend it for more leverage. Oh yeah wear some safety gloves if you have them. If you're going to get a new motor you can leave the pulley on and take it to the appliance part store.. In a decent auto parts store they replace pulleys on alternators all the time. They can take it off with a power ratchet. Big advice is to find the part number is and look at a picture of what it is online. Also Samsungs are notorious for having bad electrical controllers. It might be the motor is good. Good Luck!!!

[Beartracks]

14. Motor is fine. It's an LG. I'm just needing to replace the sensor.

[Norrrm]

23. Could it be a left-hand thread? Some bolts are opposite to avoid loosening.

[GiqueCee]

25. Good point...

... I've run into those a few times. Many bad words were bellowed at considerable volume. I have a wrench handle extender that works wonders on sticky bolts. Most any parts store will likely have one.

[Beartracks]

26. Not according to Dr. Google (YouTube DIYers, in this case), but I will try that.

[SheltieLover]

24. Is it reverse threaded?

Could very well be!

[Beartracks]

27. Not according to Dr. Google (YouTube DIYers, in this case), but I will try that.

[SheltieLover]

31. Pls let us know.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

30. They may have used something like Loctite on it.

Just one more crazy idea but you might try heating and cooling it several times, during which that cycling often breaks the bonds holding it seized. But, not very high heat which could damage the motor.

Penetrating oil sometimes helps too, with an overnight soaking. I always liked Liquid Wrench but be sure none runs down into the motor's internals.

Also, keep trying the sharp tapping on the end of a long wrench with a small hammer. That induces extremely high instantaneous shock forces on the threads. Tapping on the head of the bolt can help too, which are axial impacts vs radial.

Good luck!

[Beartracks]

36. Would Liquid Wrench work against a thread glue like Loctite?

[Liber T.]

33. heat is the trick for locktite

propane torch and a fire extingisher, you probably have a lug wrench in your trunk that may fit. brace wrench and turn the part

[Liber T.]

34. WD-40 is not a penetrant or lubricant

[The Wizard]

35. impact wrench

first loosen then tighten. WD 40, repeat.