The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Secret to fastening bolts upside down

I did a 46 bed about a year ago, and swore I was not going to do bed bolts again, on my back. Unfortunately, I have a guy, (that was unable to do his truck) that I volunteered to do his bed.

Since it is just me, how can I mount the flat washer, lock washer, and bolt, fighting gravity. Surely someone has a secret. I need to know the secret.

Thanks.

Put something heavy over the bolt first. You don't need too much to keep it from pushing up while you are putting the washer/nut on by hand. I used a plastic container I have that is full of bolts.

Dennis

mtntrk: I concur w Dennis about putting something on top of the bolt to hold it down from the top, but you're right about putting those fasteners on from the bottom. I did the bed on my 48 a few years ago and was also frustrated until I had a lightbulb moment: drop the nut into your socket and then position your lock washer and flat washer on the edge of the socket; then use masking tape wrapped simultaneously onto the outer diameter of the flat washer and the socket to hold it all together while you get the nut started onto the carriage bolt. Worked like a charm. Good luck....Dave

Thanks for the suggestions. I can control the bolt with a weight. It's the washers and nut that get me.

I've been thinking about some ways to McGyver this. I'm going to try a couple tomorrow to see what works best. But I'm still open to ideas.

Duct tape would also work.
Or how about a telescoping magnet put thru the nut and washer to hold the bolt in place?

Don

Don, good idea w the telescoping magnet, but didn't help in my case, as the carriage bolts I used on my bed were non magnetic stainless steel....that's why masking tape (or duct tape) to secure the washers to the socket worked so well.

Darn stainless bolts! I didn't think about that.
But they do last.
Always lube stainless bolts, as they will seize up sometimes.

Don

Is there a rule that says you have to assemble the bed in it's final position? How about standing it on the front end? That would definitely simplify installing all the bolts.

How about little blobs of plumbers putty to smush the loose parts together so they can be assembled as a unit?

Super glue the three together . Using a piece of wood with a hole in it push the bolt from bottom set flat washer lock washer then thread the nut on a couple of threads , drop glue on the bottom edge of nut and outside edge of lock washer . Let dry turn bolt out repeat. Hot glue works best if you have one available.

I do not have stainless so I put a big magnet on the bolt head. Keeps everything together. I did use masking tape at one point to corral the washers and nut and I still find remnants of the tape stuck to the nuts years later.

painters tape over the bolt works great, also helps with fender bolts. It doesn't leave a residue like duck tape can do. Can tape them all at once then don't need to keep going back and forth once under the truck . I use 1 1/2 inch painters tape and just a little piece over each bolt. When done just pull it all off and done

Little bit of grease sticks them all together long enuf to tighten. Quick wipe down and on to the next