SS 3/8" Five-Piece - Perma Spinner

Anyone know how to correct a Powers 5-piece bolt (SS, 3/8"x 3 1/2") that won't tighten down?

I often use 1/2" 5-piece's, and have probably placed around 50 of them with no issue. Got a good bulk deal on the 3/8", and installing them was going well until one of the bolts wouldn't torque down. So now I got a spinner. 

I've heard this can be an issue with those bolts. I took a funkness to it and tried to reset a couple different ways (per the recommendation of this video), but no dice. Has anyone had success with fixing a bolt in this state or is it better to just chop and re-drill? It's in sandstone FWIW, but not especially soft sandstone. 

I came across a spinner 5 piece which I was able to pull out.  The nut was damaged and would not thread on properly.

Hey Matthew,

If you cannot get it to seat properly and decide to give up, let me know. I have some taps, we could probably get it out with some good old fashioned engineering. The bolt would be toast but we could reuse the hole.

Sounds like the cone is spinning.  Use a funkness device on it for a few swings and try again to tighten it down.  This should get the cone to seat in the sleeve enough to bite.

Sean Smithwrote:

Hey Matthew,

If you cannot get it to seat properly and decide to give up, let me know. I have some taps, we could probably get it out with some good old fashioned engineering. The bolt would be toast but we could reuse the hole.

Thanks Sean! It was in fact one of the bolts you gave me. Sounds good.

Sam Skovgaardwrote:

Sounds like the cone is spinning.  Use a funkness device on it for a few swings and try again to tighten it down.  This should get the cone to seat in the sleeve enough to bite.

That was my hunch too but as stated in the OP, I already tried the funkness method and it's still not seated.

The hole maybe too narrow if your drill bit was worn and the nut-cone cannot slip under the sheath.  In this case the bolt can be pulled out with repeated use of the funkness device and the hole redrilled with a new bit.  You might need to upsize the hole to 1/2 inch or not depending on the rock. 

I have had great luck with 1/2" 5 piece. fair bit of troubble with 3/8ths 5 piece. 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

I have had great luck with 1/2" 5 piece. fair bit of troubble with 3/8ths 5 piece. 

I’m with Nick and strongly dislike 3/8” five piece bolts. If that hole isn’t nearly perfect, the sleeve will catch and fold up when you tap it in. If you loose the blue dust cap the cone can become clogged and the bolt will spin. Way too many things to go wrong.

1/2”  stainless five piece bolts are great!

I have placed lots of 3/8 5 piece in NC quarzite. I always reem the beginning of the hole a bit and replace bits frequently. They work great in a good hole.

They work great untill they dont. it only takes one to ruin your day.   I never had a problem with the shortie 2.25" rigs BINTD of hand drilling. the  3/8th X 3.5" on the other hand proved really anoying. the big fattys always worked as smooth a butter for me. 

I've had several 1/2" 5-pcs fail during installation in hard granite. By fail I mean spin. If your bit is at all worn...yeah. Also, the 3/8" variety's actual bolt is only a 1/4"er, which sort if creeps me out

Andy Bwrote:

I've had several 1/2" 5-pcs fail during installation in hard granite. By fail I mean spin. If your bit is at all worn...yeah. Also, the 3/8" variety's actual bolt is only a 1/4"er, which sort if creeps me out

Wrong it is 5/16th inch. Not 1/4 inch.

Way stronger than the best 3/8 wedge bolt in shear in hard rock.

Look at the spec sheet!

I thought they used to be 5/16th but were changed a few years ago??? 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

I thought they used to be 5/16th but were changed a few years ago??? 

The new Power-bolt+ has a 1/4” internal bolt for 3/8 OD. The original power-bolt still has 5/16” internal bolt. 

The PB+ is a carbon steel bolt. The stainless are 5\16.

I stand corrected. I didn't know that only the PB+ went to 1/4" internal bolt. Thanks for the update