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MG MGF Technical - Removing Cat nuts

I cant get anywhere to remove my cat nuts in the forseeable future therefore I'm going to have a go tonight at home. I've got my own ramps so access isnt a problem and a garage full of tools but I dont have oxy-acetylene burners to get some heat into the nuts.

I do however have a propane gas lamp but I'm not sure if this will be hot enough to free up the nuts.

I'm not known for my patience and the fact I've got the de-cat pipe but cant fit it is driving me up the wall.

Advice please. Do you think the propane burner will be hot enough to free them up. I'm not too bothered if they shear actually as I'll probably end up cutting off the stud and drilling out the rest of it once I have the cat off anyway and just use the cat saver nuts when I'm sending it for its MOT next year.
Bob Millar

Bob

One of your Scottish guys recently took (I beleive) about 2 1/2 days to get his off. I'm sure he will be along with advice soon.

Best of luck.

If you are still sruggling by the 28th let me know and I'll get 45 bikers round to give you a hand (we'll be at Rannock Station).
John Ponting

Hi John,

Don't mean to be pedantic, but it's Rannoch Station. (it's that throat clearing noise you English chaps have trouble with).

Watch out for the locals - their a bit "Deliverance".

Also take LOADS of midge repelant - you'll need it!

Sam
Sam Murray

Bob,

A good long soaking in Plusgas or similar release agent should help but if you don't have that then the propane should be OK to heat them with. Oxy Acetylene is only used if you want to flame cut them off. The general idea is to heat the nut to a much higher temp than the stud so a fairly small spread of flame is required. Garages usually use Oxy Acetylene because it's one of their standard pieces of equipment and it conveniently gives a small but hot flame. Adjusted too hot and it will burn the lot off!

Good luck. I did mine ten days ago and can still smell the Plusgas.

Bruce

Bruce Caldwell

I envisage much swearing and skint knuckles tonight!
Bob Millar

Don't you need a vet for that :-)

Stu
Stu

i took mine to a local garage, asked them to change it. Cost me 15 quid. Well worth it.
garry

Ditto Stu Wokingham - although it seems I got ripped off!! Took mine to a small (I didn't say dodgy) garage about 100 yards from Viking Rover, and they even fitted the bypass pipe for me, knowing exactly that... there might be... some issues with the exhaust gasses!! £25, and I drove away a happy man. As it happens, I've even got a brand new catalytic converter going spare if anyone should want to buy it!!!

Jules
Jules

Thanks for the correction Sam

Could explain why I got lost on my way to the station last time I was up there !!
John Ponting

I was able to undo the nuts on the manifold side, but had to cut the ones on the silencer side. Once off you can remove the remaining stud from the cat with a large hammer as they are a press fit.

A handy hint when you have rounded a rusty nut, is to go between metric & imperial to get a slightly smaller socket size, which you then fit with a large hammer.

Alastair
Alastair McLeod

Jules,

If you are selling the Cat you have taken off you will need to put it back on to pass the MOT.
Chris Catchpole

Thanks for the advice Chris - but I no longer have the F. I bought the cat for just that reason, but then sold the car before the MOT came up! So the cat was never used.


Jules
Jules

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2003 and 15/08/2003

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