Ideas for removing nuts from heatsinks?

Shicky · 25 Jul 2011 at 00:33

Was doing the x-clamp fix for my 360, however unfortunately I cannot get these nuts off the heatsink, of 4 on each, just 1 remains on each.

However I have utterly destroyed the nuts while attempting to turn them to get them off. Used pliers and other various instruments with zero luck, due to the damage i've done im worried if I am out of options.

Any random instruments that could work or somewhere I could take the heatsinks to get the last pieces removed?

Amnesia · 25 Jul 2011 at 00:36

a squirrel ?

^TANK^ · 25 Jul 2011 at 00:37

Mustard?

Tefal · 25 Jul 2011 at 00:39

why didn't you use a proper tool in the first place?

how big are they?

cut them most of the way though with a dremel (or hacksaw if you're insanely patient) then split them and just take them off, don't cut right though so you don't damage the thread of the bolt.

J-FRO · 25 Jul 2011 at 00:41

Just use a hammer like any other bloke would.

Snograt · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:15

Why were you teabagging a heatsink in the first place?

Cosimo · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:17

Amnesia said:
a squirrel ?

With a Dremel.

clade · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:19

dont you just clamp the top nuts and unscrew from the underside with a screwdriver?

wildman · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:20

crowbar......... or fire, yes fire lots of fire, fire fixes all

B@Th*nG · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:23

dremelling a slot into it gets my vote. or saw the bolt in half.

B@

Efour · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:32

a Dremel weilding squirrel covered in mustard will work.

fiveub · 25 Jul 2011 at 11:41

The help of GD. I better move this to Consoles and Hardware.

May get better help here.

Shicky · 25 Jul 2011 at 12:32

Haha but I was loving the responses!

I used pliers and an adjustable monkey wrench, the wrench being successful at removing 6 of the things but two remain unfortunately and I have sheared them pretty badly as well as having zero luck at getting them off.

Dunno about the sawing but looks like my only option

Shamikebab · 25 Jul 2011 at 13:07

lol at GD

Shicky · 26 Jul 2011 at 20:55

For those that said saw the nut itself, am I not at risk of leaving a tiny bit of the nut remaining. Then essentially not being able to get rid of it in any way...or you mean saw from the top down the middle of it? but therefore does the risk not remain or the screw portion becoming stuck in the thing?

cee-S-dee · 4 Aug 2011 at 07:55

I just use my cheap torx bit screwdriver to remove the nuts.

Something like that.

http://www.powertoolsdirect.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/non-ratcheting-drivers/bahco (i brought mine from wilkinson for a fiver)

Just removed the bit from the screw driver and and you'll find it will fit over the nut like a glove and you can just proceed to screw it off.