Topic: K4 engine mount bolt problem

[Baggerr]

Hi all, I am working at pulling the engine out of my K4 to repaint the frame and repaint the engine due to a really piss pour paint job the PO did.  I have broken loose all the nuts and bolts required to pull the engine but one.  It is the left front engine mount bolt. It appears to me that the case is supposed to prevent the nut from spinning, as it did on the other side, but this side seems to of had the nut broken loose from the case.  It looked like the PO had at one time attempted to take the motor out but never succeeded which would explain why the very first twist of the wrench, and virtually zero pressure, the nut and bolt just spun.  My question is how do I get this nut to break loose?  I thought about tapping a screw driver in between the nut and the case to prevent it from spinning but didn't want to crack the case.  I can't get a socket or a wrench of any kind on it.  Do I need to cut the bolt head off with a Dremel tool?  Any suggestions would be helpful.

[seanbarney41]

...looks like PO put the incorrect bolt and nut in there.  Those mount bolts got messed with a lot over the years from guys adding crash/high way bars, fairings, etc.  Anything that you can fit in there should stop the nut from turning. Screwdriver should work, just don't pound the #$%* out of it.  I don't think the case will crack.  I would turn the nut so there is some space and then fit a tight fitting feeler gauge (or a stack of 'em) and then turn the bolt to clamp 'em in there, then loosen the bolt with a ratchet.

[Baggerr]

Tried wedging a piece of soft metal between the nut and case.  Well it broke a piece of the fin off just below the nut.  Nothing structural was hurt and this K4 will never be perfect so I am not going to loose sleep over it.  I ended up cutting the nut in half and removing it from the bolt.  Pulled the bolt out and within 90 seconds I was able to remove the engine.  Now to figure out how to remove all the paint from the engine without tearing it down.