Induction heater for body bolts

[Idlethunder]

A few weeks ago Clayton had a sale so I ended up spending a weekend installing a new 2.5” Overland lift. As everyone has mentioned countless times, it rides and handles so much better now that there is no comparison to stock. I love the look and have no complaints whatsoever about the lift. It ended up gaining me over 3" which is also not a problem. What has caused a bit of trouble is that my Jeep is now too high for my wife to comfortably get in and out of. I love her dearly so naturally I’ve decided I need a set of Rockslide Engineering power steps to make her happy.

I’ve found a place to get them at a semi reasonable price but I’d like to have everything here or at least in transit when I order the steps. After spending several days combing through the forum, reading the installation guide, and watching videos, what I am worried about are the body bolts. I’ve put a socket on mine and while I didn’t get rough with them, they aren’t moving. From everything I’ve read, it is best to use a bolt induction heater to break the Loctite. There are videos of people using a torch but I’d rather get the right tool than risk a torch on my Jeep. The problem is that I’ve never used or seen one and I have no idea what to get. They look easy enough to use and after learning about them, it might keep me from needing a 4' cheater pipe when trying to loosen bolts on the tractor. I don’t need one that’s top of the line, just something that’s plenty capable of handling these 6 bolts and if I need it again in a year or two, hopefully it will still work. What I’m looking for are recommendations. I’ve read that several forum members have used them during their installs and I've found a few old Amazon links but the only one that is still for sale is this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086BQJD85/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_V7G2SWGBP0RM0K6YCA2Y?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

If anyone has used the one above or can share a link to one they have and like, I'd sure appreciate it. They seem to start around $179 on Amazon and go up from there but if anyone has a line on one anywhere else, I’m open to suggestions.

Thank you!

I’ll add a picture of my Jeep with the new lift.

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[Boostnu]

I used that one when I did mine and it worked great.

This is the method I found in a thread and used also.

 

[Idlethunder]

I read that thread and googled the mini ductor 2 bolt heater that was recommended but it was considerably more than the one on Amazon. Most of the reviews for the Solary H7E Heater on Amazon are good but there were some bad ones in there as well. It is nice to hear from someone who has actually used one, thank you!

 

[JsnJcksn]

@Boostnu nailed it except I went 20ish seconds and never had the bolt glow. I pulled the front and middle out to install rock sliders. I ended up replacing the bolts as one broke on re-installation at less the 50 lbs. torque. Hit up Benny at Mopar Parts for the bolts - cheap insurance.

Forgot to add, I used this model. Same price point but worked well for me and has been used by another for multiple bolts.

 

[Rokon]

I recommend the Bolt Buster. Twice as powerful as any of the others. Comes with a slew of coils. Excellent piece of kit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

One thing I try hard not to skimp on is tools. So I refuse to buy something like this that's under $200. You do get what you pay for. I don't trust Amazon reviews in all cases - considering their audience and history of reviews.......... so I look out there in tool sites and other places and compare reviews from at least 3 sources.
There's a huge difference in the quality of the attachments, as I've found out since. The ones that came with this are obviously a step or 3 ahead of those you buy on amazon as replacements from other companies. Made me glad I invested in a tool.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XN9HO6

I've used this a lot - to remove rusty pulleys from rusty shafts, to heat steel bars to bend them (better than dragging out the torch, and it's a ton safer than open flame when I have cars and flammable stuff all around me in my shop)
I don't have to worry about making sure the gases are off or the flame is out before laying down a torch, rolling up hose, etc. If I have electricity, I can heat anything of almost any shape, including flat areas.

Luckily you don't have to pull the body bolts out to get the RSE steps in place - just enough to slip the bracket between the bolt head and the big fat washer.
My problem was when I went to tighten the left front bolt - that's when it snapped. There was no reaching it, none, without cutting into things.
That's when I decided the cost of this tool was way worth it. Good duty cycle, well-made attachments. And I've used it a lot since then.

 

[Idlethunder]

Thank you for the link. I saw a picture you posted of yours a while back but couldn't make out the model. That may be overkill for me but like you said, I can think of a lot of situations where it would be handy.

 

[sharpsicle]

One thing I try hard not to skimp on is tools. So I refuse to buy something like this that's under $200. You do get what you pay for. I don't trust Amazon reviews in all cases - considering their audience and history of reviews.......... so I look out there in tool sites and other places and compare reviews from at least 3 sources.
There's a huge difference in the quality of the attachments, as I've found out since. The ones that came with this are obviously a step or 3 ahead of those you buy on amazon as replacements from other companies. Made me glad I invested in a tool.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XN9HO6

I've used this a lot - to remove rusty pulleys from rusty shafts, to heat steel bars to bend them (better than dragging out the torch, and it's a ton safer than open flame when I have cars and flammable stuff all around me in my shop)
I don't have to worry about making sure the gases are off or the flame is out before laying down a torch, rolling up hose, etc. If I have electricity, I can heat anything of almost any shape, including flat areas.

Luckily you don't have to pull the body bolts out to get the RSE steps in place - just enough to slip the bracket between the bolt head and the big fat washer.
My problem was when I went to tighten the left front bolt - that's when it snapped. There was no reaching it, none, without cutting into things.
That's when I decided the cost of this tool was way worth it. Good duty cycle, well-made attachments. And I've used it a lot since then.

Think I could use this to light my grill as well??

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thank you for the link. I saw a picture you posted of yours a while back but couldn't make out the model. That may be overkill for me but like you said, I can think of a lot of situations where it would be handy.

I hate over-spending, but tools, that's another thing. When I want it, I want it to work - I want it, it's not a "this would be nice if it actually worked".
I've since used it to heat up a pulley pressed onto a tapered hub on a JD lawn tractor gear box - and pop the pulley off with no damage, heated steel rod to bend into shape to anchor raccoon traps, heated an alternator pulley to get it off after 40+ years of corrosion anchored it firmly, among other things.

I'm sure there are other decent ones out there, but this is the direction my searches took me. I also wanted support for as long as I need it. That means a company with roots, a web site, staff, and so on. Not just someone to dropships stuff from China with their label and never actually sees the product in person.
That's the way of Amazon these days - some things when you order, then do tracking, the tracking starts with China Post. It's a seller, maybe in the US, maybe in Ukraine, maybe in China, selling stuff they never see, never use.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Think I could use this to light my grill as well??

Naw, when properly used, the device itself doesn't really get that hot. They prefer that when you use it, the ends used to go around something never actually touch that something.
But if you put a steel bar in your charcoal and make it glow cherry-red, might work.
I prefer a cup of gasoline and a wood match for the grill.
If it's a gas grill, close the lid, turn all the valves open, wait for the gas to build up, then toss in the match.

 

[sharpsicle]

Naw, when properly used, the device itself doesn't really get that hot. They prefer that when you use it, the ends used to go around something never actually touch that something.
But if you put a steel bar in your charcoal and make it glow cherry-red, might work.
I prefer a cup of gasoline and a wood match for the grill.
If it's a gas grill, close the lid, turn all the valves open, wait for the gas to build up, then toss in the match.

Ah damn, easier to convince the mrs. if I can use it outside the garage too....

 

[JsnJcksn]

One thing I try hard not to skimp on is tools. So I refuse to buy something like this that's under $200. You do get what you pay for. I don't trust Amazon reviews in all cases - considering their audience and history of reviews.......... so I look out there in tool sites and other places and compare reviews from at least 3 sources.
There's a huge difference in the quality of the attachments, as I've found out since. The ones that came with this are obviously a step or 3 ahead of those you buy on amazon as replacements from other companies. Made me glad I invested in a tool.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008XN9HO6

I've used this a lot - to remove rusty pulleys from rusty shafts, to heat steel bars to bend them (better than dragging out the torch, and it's a ton safer than open flame when I have cars and flammable stuff all around me in my shop)
I don't have to worry about making sure the gases are off or the flame is out before laying down a torch, rolling up hose, etc. If I have electricity, I can heat anything of almost any shape, including flat areas.

Luckily you don't have to pull the body bolts out to get the RSE steps in place - just enough to slip the bracket between the bolt head and the big fat washer.
My problem was when I went to tighten the left front bolt - that's when it snapped. There was no reaching it, none, without cutting into things.
That's when I decided the cost of this tool was way worth it. Good duty cycle, well-made attachments. And I've used it a lot since then.

It’s odd that the one I purchased has different pictures but matches the one shares here by Shadows. I’ll have to look at the actual model on the induction unit, but the case, packaging, and labeling are dead ringers. At least I am still alive after using it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Ah damn, easier to convince the mrs. if I can use it outside the garage too....

I wonder if it would re-warm coffee?

I guess I figure if she can go with an 11K sewing machine, what's a $500 tool that will save me time and energy (and be safer)

 

[Free2roam]

So my question is does heating the bolt up hot enough to glow red. Is that taking some temper out of the bolts? Should you just replace them?

 

[Rokon]

Generally you rarely have to get the hardware that hot to have things come apart.
if your fighting loctite, 500f is more than enough.
Things like a nut, the beauty of induction heating is it happens fast and the nut heats way before the stud does. That temp diff is to your benifit.
Critical hardware should be replaced. Heat treatment does change if you go red hot.

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