May have screwed something

[Jester4kicks]

So I removed my pet cage in order to get my windows tinted. Went to reinstall it, and had trouble getting the last bolt threaded properly.

Here's a link to the pics to show where the cage mounts. The holes it uses are the stock holes for the rear hangers.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/108145-new-dog-cage-cargo-barrier-lots-pics.html

I've taken the whole thing down and tried to thread the bolt in nice and gently. It seems to start, but seizes up after just a turn or two. I thought it might be the bolt itself, so I found the original bolt that the hanger used, but it seized up as well. I gave it a little extra muscle, and felt it doing something other than threading. Backed it out, and the first three threads on the bolt were kinda crushed down, almost flush.

Not sure what to do from here. Ideas?

 

[having fun]

So I removed my pet cage in order to get my windows tinted. Went to reinstall it, and had trouble getting the last bolt threaded properly.

Here's a link to the pics to show where the cage mounts. The holes it uses are the stock holes for the rear hangers.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/108145-new-dog-cage-cargo-barrier-lots-pics.html

I've taken the whole thing down and tried to thread the bolt in nice and gently. It seems to start, but seizes up after just a turn or two. I thought it might be the bolt itself, so I found the original bolt that the hanger used, but it seized up as well. I gave it a little extra muscle, and felt it doing something other than threading. Backed it out, and the first three threads on the bolt were kinda crushed down, almost flush.

Not sure what to do from here. Ideas?

Take the bolt out, and get another one same thread ect., start it in a tread only, apply pressure on the bolt hold it in straight and wrench it in. I have been able to solve the same problem that way. I noticed the nut in the body is at times stronger and not strip versus the bolt.

 

[gaterose]

May need to get a tap in the right thread and try retapping the hole if you can't get the threads straight with a regular bolt.

 

[bvc]

May need to get a tap in the right thread and try retapping the hole if you can't get the threads straight with a regular bolt.

Yep - take a good bolt to the hardware store and have them find you a tap the same size.

 

[Jester4kicks]

Never used a tap before. Is it just a matter of screwing in the tap just like a bolt?

 

[having fun]

Yes, thread it in and about every 1/2 turn back it out a 1/4 turn to clean the treads. probably go until you get to the bind area, that's what your fixing/ threading. Give what I suggested first, it has done the trick for me a lots of times and you won't have to buy the tap.

 

[Jester4kicks]

So just force it? I still have the other stock bolts for the other holes. Could just use one of those I guess. Do I need wd40 or anti-seize compound?

 

[having fun]

Just get it started in the threads with your fingers, you will start to feel it getting hard, put your thumb on the head of bolt with some pressure, turn with a wrench at the same time. You putting pressure and turning is in a way doing a tap method if the threads allow.

If it starts to turn at an angle or just spins like its striped. You'll have to do the tap method.

 

[Jester4kicks]

Just get it started in the threads with your fingers, you will start to feel it getting hard, put your thumb on the head of bolt with some pressure, turn with a wrench at the same time. You putting pressure and turning is in a way doing a tap method if the threads allow.

If it starts to turn at an angle or just spins like its striped. You'll have to do the tap method.

Well, this did it! Bought two decently-long fresh bolts, put one in the good hole and one in the bad. Then did a visual to make sure they both looked straight. After that, just started going at it with a box wrench, slowly and carefully.

At one point I got impatient and use a standard socket, but I could immediately tell this was adding force at odd angles. Stayed with it on the box wrench until it got past the bind point, and then it smoothed out.

Backed it all out, put the cage back in place, and bolted it all back in!

Great success! Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

 

[having fun]

Glad everything worked out for ya. The nuts behind things are pretty tough, I had one on my frame that my skids had to attach to. It did the same thing, striped, no torque. Almost had to get in there and drill and tap. Gave it the method suggested and worked and glad. I couldn't get to it with a drill.