Gordon Nichols posted:A 3' bar won't even begin to loosen it, heat or no heat (unless your torch is a big Oxy-Acetylene). You can get a 6' to 8' piece of heavy wall black iron pipe for under $20 bucks. That, with your weight on the far end of it, should loosen pretty much anything. Don't jump up and down on it, just put your 2-hand weight on it and lightly bounce it and ride it slowly down. I can't remember a rear castle nut suddenly breaking loose in a bang or anything - they usually just slowly let go with the proper length pipe extension.
So let's say that the nut is corroded on and you'll need 450+ foot pounds to overcome the corrosion (that's pretty common). Let's also say that YOU weigh about 180 pounds (stay with me, here...)
If you have a 6' extension on the breaker bar (and that longer length makes all the difference, here) and you plop your 2-handed 180 pounds out between 5' and 6' from the pivot point, then you'll be able to exert a maximum of 990 ft. lbs. of torque.
But you won't exert ALL of that torque unless ALL of your weight is on the bar (feet off the floor). Most likely, you'll start pushing down on the bar, the end will arc about a foot and then the nut will just start to turn. (If it doesn't, I just go find a longer piece of pipe and start over).
That's how it works.
Archimedes was right.
"Give me a lever and I can loosen the world" (or something like that).
Gordon, this reply will alter my commute route home tonight. I’ll try to catch Lowe’s before they close and buy a longer pipe extension along with the MAAP gas torch.
I’d rather have the tools available than waiting another day. I’ll first give the impact wrench a try tonight since the socket I ordered should be arriving today. If any anything, maybe it will jar loose any rust binding the nut.
I’ll use the 6’ pipe extension, heat if necessary. One way or another that axle nut is going to come off.
Thank you for the feedback!