Locating odd sized bolts

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SirRobyn0

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Like others have said you really could cut a longer bolt down. We are talking about a water pump bolt not something holds the front end together.

You could try www.tacomascrew.com if you really don't want to cut. TS has always had or been able to get what I've needed.

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AuroraGirl

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You know whats really nice? Purpose built propriety fasteners that are discontinued by the only original maker and are used in very limited quantities and need 10.9 hardness and have a shoulder that is a special length for thermal expansion differences between aluminum and steel.
Use too short of a shoulder, threads cutup the aluminum and dont fit snug. use too long, then you dont fasten to the steel on the other side with threads

edit:

you cant just use any long bolt, the space is limited and the next size up has too big a shoulder!
 
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PrairieDrifter

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You know whats really nice? Purpose built propriety fasteners that are discontinued by the only original maker and are used in very limited quantities and need 10.9 hardness and have a shoulder that is a special length for thermal expansion differences between aluminum and steel.
Use too short of a shoulder, threads cutup the aluminum and dont fit snug. use too long, then you dont fasten to the steel on the other side with threads

edit:

you cant just use any long bolt, the space is limited and the next size up has too big a shoulder!

meh.. farmers have been mismatching and hacking stuff like this up for 100's of years. There's a reason why 100+ year old iron is still around and working. I've never had an instance where a bolt that fit at least somewhat properly caused an issue.

You can get bolts with no shoulder, most bolts don't do anything for precise alignment, the alignment comes from installation and clamping force exerted from the bolts. A water pump and anything in that realm is fine with some custom made bolts.

There's always all thread as well, throw a nut on your length of "bolt" and weld the top flush and grind it smooth. It'll look and work like any other bolt
 

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Well after reading all the replies here and not finding a great way to get a smaller bolt from a 4" bolt I've done some research and other sites said to cut a bolt so I'm going to try that instead of all the crazy ideas in this thread.
 

SirRobyn0

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Well after reading all the replies here and not finding a great way to get a smaller bolt from a 4" bolt I've done some research and other sites said to cut a bolt so I'm going to try that instead of all the crazy ideas in this thread.

Seems to me a lot of us suggested cutting off a bolt including myself. Heck, the second post suggested it. I think you got the other ideas because initially you didn't like the idea of "sawing off the bolt". If it makes you feel any better this is how we would handle this at the shop. Take the 4" bolt, run a die down on it, cut the bolt off at the proper length, carefully shoulder the end of the bolt on the grinder, then run the die off of it. Running the die down on the bolt before you cut it off and then running it off after the cut assures you that the threads in on the tip will be in perfect condition and will start in the hole just like a bolt made to that length.
 

TX87R10

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Seems to me a lot of us suggested cutting off a bolt including myself. Heck, the second post suggested it. I think you got the other ideas because initially you didn't like the idea of "sawing off the bolt". If it makes you feel any better this is how we would handle this at the shop. Take the 4" bolt, run a die down on it, cut the bolt off at the proper length, carefully shoulder the end of the bolt on the grinder, then run the die off of it. Running the die down on the bolt before you cut it off and then running it off after the cut assures you that the threads in on the tip will be in perfect condition and will start in the hole just like a bolt made to that length.

That was supposed to be clearly a joke :). Thanks for the advice I'm definitely looking at cutting it after the advice in this thread.
 

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meh.. farmers have been mismatching and hacking stuff like this up for 100's of years. There's a reason why 100+ year old iron is still around and working. I've never had an instance where a bolt that fit at least somewhat properly caused an issue.

You can get bolts with no shoulder, most bolts don't do anything for precise alignment, the alignment comes from installation and clamping force exerted from the bolts. A water pump and anything in that realm is fine with some custom made bolts.

There's always all thread as well, throw a nut on your length of "bolt" and weld the top flush and grind it smooth. It'll look and work like any other bolt

10.9 in m12 that's only 25mm long is a hard thing to shop for. And the shoulder is wider than the threads. The way they operate is almost like pivots on the knuckle when the brakes heat up, which are iron, and the hub and etc. Maybe.
 

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For future references on odd fastener sizes, Fastenal either has or can get about anything when it comes to nuts and bolts.
 

PrairieDrifter

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10.9 in m12 that's only 25mm long is a hard thing to shop for. And the shoulder is wider than the threads. The way they operate is almost like pivots on the knuckle when the brakes heat up, which are iron, and the hub and etc. Maybe.
Of course specialized bolts like that would have to be sourced or custom machined. But anything water pump related or anything close in nature is fine to do what you need to do.
 

AuroraGirl

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For future references on odd fastener sizes, Fastenal either has or can get about anything when it comes to nuts and bolts.
we have a local fastenal... wont deal to public, only commercial accounts.

would be a god send
 

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we have a local fastenal... wont deal to public, only commercial accounts.

would be a god send

A Fastenal that does not deal with the public?? Never heard of such??
 

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