How to loosen a grinder disk that was tighted to tight?

**tjlock** · 03-17-2011, 10:38 PM

http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...ngle%2bgrinder

First off, this is the grinder I have, yeah, got the cheapest I could find at the time. Anyhow, I loaned it out (first mistake) but got a couple free disks with its return. Cracked the disk in it and went to take it off and the nut was over tightened. I can't get it to budge at all to change out the disk. Anyone have any ideas on how to resolve this?

**Destructo_d** · 03-18-2011, 12:18 AM

95% of the time, I don't even use the tool to swap disks.. I use to spring lock to keep the disc from spinning and with my other hand, I just grab the disk and loosen/tighten it... maybe you can grab the cutting disk with vise grips or something and loosen it off... worse comes to worse, might have to break it off piece by piece...

good luck

**IdahoScrapper** · 03-18-2011, 02:47 AM

I gather there is not a spindle lock? My cheapy HF has one. What about putting a wrench on the shaft? I've got another grinder kicking around somewhere that has a narrowed/flat faced shaft coming off the motor that lets a wrench fit over it.

**Saroro** · 03-18-2011, 04:38 AM

There are some sprays you can get to help loosen that too. Have you tried WD-40 or anything like that?

**Mick** · 03-18-2011, 05:17 AM

Mine got REALLY over-tightened. I hadn't used it much since it was new about 15 years ago and this was the first new disc. On mine, the disc spins on the shaft to tighten. I finally wound up putting the disc in a vise and used the weight of the grinder as leverage. It actually took two men pushing on it to break it loose. I'd tried everything and decided that if this didn't work, a $120 grinder was going in the scrap metal pile. Also, you might see if spraying some wd40 to soak into the threads would help any.

**tjlock** · 03-18-2011, 05:57 AM

Yeah, this has a spindle lock on it, and the tool to loosen and tighten they supplied with it is now bent. I will try the WD40 and see if that works. If not, I will try to try to take the disk out piece by piece. Not much left of the disk now to get much of anything on it.

**injunjoe** · 03-18-2011, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by Saroro

There are some sprays you can get to help loosen that too. Have you tried WD-40 or anything like that?

WD-40 works good but PB Blaster is the way to go for frozen or rusted parts. Be careful around plastic as it is a catalyst and will melt some types.

You may have to heat the nut with a torch to free it up without doing damage to the armature.

**parrothead** · 03-18-2011, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by injunjoe

WD-40 works good but PB Blaster is the way to go for frozen or rusted parts. Be careful around plastic as it is a catalyst and will melt some types.

You may have to heat the nut with a torch to free it up without doing damage to the armature.

I have heard so much good about PB Blaster over the last year or so. That is what I have setting around as well now.

**IdahoScrapper** · 03-18-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by tjlock

Yeah, this has a spindle lock on it, and the tool to loosen and tighten they supplied with it is now bent. I will try the WD40 and see if that works. If not, I will try to try to take the disk out piece by piece. Not much left of the disk now to get much of anything on it.

Sounds like the last grinder I had and broke the pins off off the wrench. Does yours have 2 holes in the nut and is smooth/round? Try grabbing it with visegrips.

**injunjoe** · 03-18-2011, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Sounds like the last grinder I had and broke the pins off off the wrench. Does yours have 2 holes in the nut and is smooth/round? Try grabbing it with visegrips.

That nut is made to be turned with equal pressure from each side, as to not put pressure on the threads.
With a pair of Visegrips the pressure is applied to only the sides of the nut, thus making it oblong, making it even tighter against the threads on the shaft.

**tjlock** · 03-19-2011, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Sounds like the last grinder I had and broke the pins off off the wrench. Does yours have 2 holes in the nut and is smooth/round? Try grabbing it with visegrips.

Yup, that is what mine has. I managed to get it of of there. I think I damaged something though. Put the new disk on, plugged it in and the bladed spins half a turn and stops. I'll take it apart and see if the gears are not lined up correctly and try to get it running. If not, guess I will spend another $13 while it is on sale. Glad the housing is cast aluminum.

**IdahoScrapper** · 03-19-2011, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by injunjoe

That nut is made to be turned with equal pressure from each side, as to not put pressure on the threads.
With a pair of Visegrips the pressure is applied to only the sides of the nut, thus making it oblong, making it even tighter against the threads on the shaft.

For what it was worth, it worked for me. You don't want to make it super tight and crush it, just enough pressure to bite it and turn.

**scrappy** · 03-20-2011, 08:33 PM

try securing thr grinder with a vice or something and then take a nail and a hammer put the nail where the tool would go then hit it with the hammer see if it will budge