Tool to unbolt Thiokol J grousers

The large "J" type grousers have 7/16 bolts that hold the belts on.......I have looked at things a few times and am still puzzled at what sort of tool was originally used to hold the nuts that are down in the slot of the grouser.

Is there a special tool ???????

I really don't to go off on a wild building party if there is a simple answer.......

I drilled the heads off the others I have......Gotta be a simpler way.....

Any input is much appreciated...

Snowy Rivers said:

The large "J" type grousers have 7/16 bolts that hold the belts on.......I have looked at things a few times and am still puzzled at what sort of tool was originally used to hold the nuts that are down in the slot of the grouser.

Is there a special tool ???????

I really don't to go off on a wild building party if there is a simple answer.......

I drilled the heads off the others I have......Gotta be a simpler way.....

Any input is much appreciated...

Click to expand...

I used an angled box end wrench. I had to cut the opposite end off and weld a pipe on it because I couldn't hold it while using a 3/4" impact wrench to remove the old ones. If the nut hex striped off I used a 90° die grinder with a 1/16" thin cut off disc to slice the nut and the a chisel to remove it the rest of the way. I don't have a photo of the modified wrench right now but here is one before I modified it.

Yeah......Thanks for the reply.....

Petty much what I came up with.

I am just going to use the breaker bar with a piece of pipe fastened onto the bar (To keep slipping accidents minimal) and just break the bolts off.

I could care less about saving the old fasteners.....or the belts.....Just want the grousers, the tire guides and the backing plates.

The wrench I ended up with is more straight and fairly short.....Just lays in the "J" REALLY NICE....

I was happy that the bolts break off as easy as these did......

If any try to unscrew....Just hit them with the 3/4" impact gun.....and get on with it.



Going to cut the belts with the Sawzall every 4 grousers....then toss the mess upright in the vise and break the bolts off......


The finished track will have two 12" belts.....the tire guide and such and be 44" OVERALL WIDTH.....I can't go wider and still clear the new front axle suspension.....But 44" will be fine for this kitty......

My frame is still original 2100 width at 92" centers on the road wheels......The cat will be 136" overall width when complete.

Pretty much a square footprint with length and width nearly the same........about 8 feet to the top of the light bar on the cab.