Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions. 24hrs of repeated soaking with Liquid Wrench, modified needle nosed pliers, and a 16" channelock brought me home. It was still very tough.
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Ted Kidwell, RPT
California State University, Sacramento
Capistrano Hall, rm. 153
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6015
916.278.6737
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2022 22:52
From: Alan Hoeckelman
Subject: old steinway upright nosebolt
Bingo! That's what a drag link bit looks like after the Dremel modification I described. Available in ½" & 3/8" drive from some auto parts stores, Snap-On, & other tool suppliers.
Alan Hoeckelman, RPT
4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr.
Cottleville, MO 63376-2865
Original Message:
Sent: 7/26/2022 4:17:00 PM
From: David Hankin
Subject: RE: old steinway upright nosebolt
Greetings all -
I sent Ted a photo of the tool that I made for my rebuild of an 1893 Steinway upright with the same kind of nose bolt. I started with a 1/2" drive snap-one flat bit and then ground it out to look like this:
Works perfectly and one can get substantial leverage using the socket drive.
Dave Hankin
Redwood Chapter
Original Message:
Sent: 7/26/2022 10:54:00 AM
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: RE: old steinway upright nosebolt
If you can recruit a helper, each of you might be able to hammer a punch on one of the slots simultaneously in rhythm to coax it loose.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
"Since everything is in our heads, we had better not lose them." Coco Chanel
Original Message:
Sent: 7/26/2022 12:30:00 AM
From: Alan Hoeckelman
Subject: RE: old steinway upright nosebolt
Ted,
From the pic, I can only imagine the diameter to be a ½"? Do you have any large screwdrivers that reach that width that are particularly old and you would not mind modifying one? If so, a Dremel and a cutting disk chucked in could create the notch at the center of the blade, start out narrow as you can always widen it, test it, grind a bit more, test again until it just fits. I have taken a tool used on older cars, a "drag link bit" used on a 3/8" drive ratchet and thinned the blade until it fit the slot. Later, I did another bit and ground the slot up the center for the nose bolt's threaded end to fit into as the blade engages the nut's slots. Based on your pic, you might need to grind a bit of the sides an equal amount to avoid interference with the plate. Congratulations! You now have a unique, special-purpose tool to use yet again. Someday! Good luck!
Alan Hoeckelman, RPT
St. Charles Comm. College
4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Cottleville, MO 63376-2865
Original Message:
Sent: 7/25/2022 11:01:00 PM
From: Ted Kidwell
Subject: old steinway upright nosebolt
Would someone please let me know how to remove this? It is extremely tight both front and back. Thank you.
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Ted Kidwell, RPT
California State University, Sacramento
Capistrano Hall, rm. 153
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6015
916.278.6737
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