The Hodaka Club Forum

I may have asked this before, but I’m asking again for a friend who is going to pull his exhaust studs out.

There was a product here a lot of folks like, which is preferred to products like PB Blaster. I can’t remember the name of it. So I’m asking again! Thanks! Victor

Hi Victor, I use Kan-0-kroil. The stuff is spendy but awesome. Also a 50:50 brew of ATF and acetone is excellent. Be careful around paint!!

Thanks Matt! I remembered something about tranny fluid but forgot about the acetone! Victor

My understanding is that the volatility of the acetone thins the ATF to allow better penetration.

And remember that atf/acetone is muy flammable so be careful 'round flames. Butane torches and rusty studs are frequent companions.

I do not think spray lube would ever touch rusty threads, but I like to be proven wrong. How about melted bees wax? -------Clarence

The best "liquid" wrench I've found is sweat and a ten foot long breaker bar !!!!

Try using penetrating oil AND a heat gun.

Actually, for the header bolt removal he’s going to use a penetrant applied the night before, then a start up the next day to warm the header bolts & Head &then a second penetrant treatment to cool the studs down while leaving the header warm. Hopefully, this combination will give him the release he needs without breaking any of the exhaust header bolts. He may also add a double nut to the mix so he has a bigger bit of leverage to turn the header bolts. Victor

All penetrating oils are flammable, including PB, WD, or whatever. Acetone is so volatile that it will go away on its own in mere minutes, leaving the ATF or whatever behind. Using heat on top of flammable oils simply causes the oil to flash. Done it most of my life and still have most of my hair. What you would not want is the the whole can to go bang, so use the spray or dope of your choice, put the can away, clean up slop, let it sit overnight or for as long as your patience lasts, and heat away. Just be aware that residual oil can flame up, so have a backup plan handy.

Good call, HJ. I forgot to mention that acetone is essentially explosive.