Noob question - how to I remove rack nuts from a rack?

MikeHunt79 · 22 Dec 2009 at 23:54

Hi, I'm hoping a few people who use servers have had the pleasure of building up a 19" rack?

What's the easiest way to remove rack nuts from a rack? I bought a rack recently, and I need to move a few nuts around in order to install my gear...

Also, is it best to put the heaviest things at the bottom? Is there some sort of 'racks for dummies' type page at all, covering the basics?

Thanks

rp2000 · 23 Dec 2009 at 00:34

MikeHunt79 said:
Hi, I'm hoping a few people who use servers have had the pleasure of building up a 19" rack?

What's the easiest way to remove rack nuts from a rack? I bought a rack recently, and I need to move a few nuts around in order to install my gear...

Also, is it best to put the heaviest things at the bottom? Is there some sort of 'racks for dummies' type page at all, covering the basics?

Thanks

Use a tool that looks like this (usually quite cheap), it can be used to put the nuts in and help take them out. Otherwise a flatheaded screwdriver.

http://www.mirapath.com/images/stories/cage nut tool1.jpg

rp2000

MikeHunt79 · 23 Dec 2009 at 00:44

Well, I tried a flathead screwdriver and they won't come all the way out. I'll try and obtain one of those tools... Do they have a name?

Nut removal tool?

rp2000 · 23 Dec 2009 at 00:50

MikeHunt79 said:
Well, I tried a flathead screwdriver and they won't come all the way out. I'll try and obtain one of those tools... Do they have a name?

Nut removal tool?

"cage nut tool" in google (just in case one of the ones I link sells OcUK type stuff).
http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/cage-nut-218165.jpg
^^This is the type of nut I am talking about, it is possible you are using a different type, as the one I have linked it's pretty self explanatory where you would stick a flatheaded screwdriver, and then leverage, to make it pop out.

rp2000

paradigm · 23 Dec 2009 at 00:57

If you can't remove them with a flatblade screwdriver then you are doing something wrong. I can remove them by hand.

TheKnat · 23 Dec 2009 at 08:04

Flathead screwdriver + lots of blood usually does the trick for me!

But if you can get one those special tools, they do the job quite well.

Sp00n · 23 Dec 2009 at 08:11

Needle nose pliers

rainbow6six · 23 Dec 2009 at 08:11

TheKnat said:
Flathead screwdriver + lots of blood usually does the trick for me!

But if you can get one those special tools, they do the job quite well.

My fingers will never be the same because of these sodding nuts!!!!

The IBM nuts are a breeze to use though! :cool:

ruffneck · 23 Dec 2009 at 09:44

rainbow6six said:
My fingers will never be the same because of these sodding nuts!!!!

The IBM nuts are a breeze to use though!

The Dell ones are also equally easy, never had a problem

rixarena · 23 Dec 2009 at 09:48

my poor fingers, ive stripped a rack once where some genius decided to put them in every hole.

Sam

ruffneck · 23 Dec 2009 at 09:53

rixarena said:
my poor fingers, ive stripped a rack once where some genius decided to put them in every hole.

Sam

lol now that would be annoying

Little_Crow · 23 Dec 2009 at 10:36

rixarena said:
my poor fingers, ive stripped a rack once where some genius decided to put them in every hole.

That man is a hero, I've never seen enough cage nuts in one place to fill a whole rack (Did he do both front and back posts?).
Plus, when you need some you can never find them. Clearly this man possessed a great deal of vision.

dave-lew99 · 23 Dec 2009 at 11:06

How true, usually you end up with lots of things having only two bolts in - at diagonally opposite corners, then you play the game of having to spot the item which has more than 2 in so you can pinch some!

Big screwdriver is what you want to get them out - don't be afraid of applying a large amount of force.

For getting new ones in which can be a bit stiff, i tend to squash the lip together with a pair of pliers so that they'll pop in easier.

#Chri5# · 23 Dec 2009 at 12:24

TheKnat said:
Flathead screwdriver + lots of blood usually does the trick for me!

Indeed, there's nothing quite like bleeding all over a rack.

svbooga · 23 Dec 2009 at 12:30

#Chri5# said:
Indeed, there's nothing quite like bleeding all over a rack.

Was quite embarrassed the first time i went to install in a datacenter and within five minutes having to go to reception and gate the first aid box as the screwdriver went through my finger

Anyway, to the OP, always put the heaviest stuff at the bottom if you can.

Sp00n · 23 Dec 2009 at 14:25

svbooga said:
Was quite embarrassed the first time i went to install in a datacenter and within five minutes having to go to reception and gate the first aid box as the screwdriver went through my finger

Anyway, to the OP, always put the heaviest stuff at the bottom if you can.

This happened to me last week, bloody HP rails are awful :mad:

Ste_1 · 23 Dec 2009 at 14:32

I usually can get them out with a flathead, i just cant catch them when they ping down the side of the cab!!!

Saundie · 23 Dec 2009 at 15:09

MikeHunt79 said:
Also, is it best to put the heaviest things at the bottom?

Yes, starting with the UPS. Otherwise it may be prone to toppling when you extend a server out of the rack. HP offer rack stabilizer kits that will help prevent this, assuming you have an HP rack.

Hairy · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:47

dave-lew99 said:
How true, usually you end up with lots of things having only two bolts in - at diagonally opposite corners, then you play the game of having to spot the item which has more than 2 in so you can pinch some!

Big screwdriver is what you want to get them out - don't be afraid of applying a large amount of force.

For getting new ones in which can be a bit stiff, i tend to squash the lip together with a pair of pliers so that they'll pop in easier.

Have played that game more than once!

I always find squeezing them from the back and getting your fingernail under the front works quite well.

Mabye that's why I have no skin left?

York · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:59

Saundie said:
Yes, starting with the UPS. Otherwise it may be prone to toppling when you extend a server out of the rack. HP offer rack stabilizer kits that will help prevent this, assuming you have an HP rack.

Got a couple of HP racks with these stabilizer kits installed - nice big weighty feet that attach at the front/sides to help give the racks a bit of stability

.

I usually use the same flathead screwdriver that I unscrew the screws with to remove the nuts. Unless I remembered to pick up the cage nut removal tool

The HP cage nuts are usually pretty easy to get in/out, but the mixture of other manufactuers cage nuts that we have can be a real pain to work with - quite literally a lot of the time!