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Anyone good with tools?

F

fallenangel99

Golden Member
I got a basketball hoop as a gift. I have to assemble it and fill it with water or sand.

The trouble I'm having is it's impossible to tighten the nuts on the bolt!!!. I can finger tighten it, but when i try to use a wrench (i use a adjustable wrench, they say to use 1/2" wrench), the nut doesn't move, the whole bolt moves. Then i put my hand on the top of the bolt so i can get a much better grip, but still the nut doesnt move!!!

What should I do? I am tempted to buy a power wrench, but they are over 150!!!

Any advice? I called the company and they said to try a plier!


GAHHH!!!!!

I dont want a wobbly b-ball hoop 🙂

Thanks for any help
 
lol yeah! i dont know what the company was thinking. i dont want to finger tighten all the nuts.

i'm gonna ask some construction guy for some advice
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
You need two wrenches; one to hold the bolt still while you turn the nut w/the other.
Click to expand...


ah i see!. great idea! i'll give that a shot

does it matter if i use a adjustable wrench rather a 1/2" , 3/4", 7/16" wrench (all are required along with the adjustable wrench)

Thanks MichaelD
 
Originally posted by: fallenangel99
Originally posted by: MichaelD
You need two wrenches; one to hold the bolt still while you turn the nut w/the other.
Click to expand...


ah i see!. great idea! i'll give that a shot

does it matter if i use a adjustable wrench rather a 1/2" , 3/4", 7/16" wrench (all are required along with the adjustable wrench)

Thanks MichaelD
Click to expand...

Use whatever fits the nuts and turns them. Adjustable wrenches are awesome b/c "one size fits all."
 
Find out the size of the bolt and use a wrench to match, unless you've got one of those kickass wrenches that I've got that fit almost anything...
 
Originally posted by: Nik
Find out the size of the bolt and use a wrench to match, unless you've got one of those kickass wrenches that I've got that fit almost anything...
Click to expand...

Do you have a model name or something? when i go to home depot tomm, ill check it out!

The bolts are all diff. sizes for diff. parts of the hoop. So far, I just have the adjustable wrench and a couple of socket wrenches.

Thanks
 
Look through Craftsman wrenches. You should have a parts manifest list that came with the hoop which will tell you the sizes of the bolts.
 
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
 
Originally posted by: djheater
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
One of the best things my dad ever did for me when was a kid was let me follow him around when he was working in his shop or working on one of the cars or whatever. Even though I was probably in his way most of the time I learned so many skills that use on almost a daily basis.
 
lol, funny thread 😀

Try harbor freight if you have one near by for some cheap tools. They normally have a ~20 piece open end wrench set for arout $15...not bad for the price.
 
Originally posted by: djheater
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, you really ought to be at least competent enough to do basic house repairs or assemble a basketball hoop.
 
Originally posted by: Nik
Look through Craftsman wrenches. You should have a parts manifest list that came with the hoop which will tell you the sizes of the bolts.
Click to expand...


ok here are some of the bolt/nut sizes:

1/4" centerlock nut
5/16" x 4 1/4" hex nut
5/16" cap nut
1/2" centerlock nut
1/4" x 1 1/4" hex bolt
5/16" cap nut
.....
etc

all the instructions really say is to "completely tighten the nuts..." and to use " 3/4" wrench & 1/2" wrench "
doesnt say what wrench for what nut (not that it matters)

im just having troubling using the adjustable wrench to tighten the nut, which doesnt go all the way down the bolt.

ah
 
Originally posted by: djheater
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

so how would you tighten a nut when it refuses to go down the bolt?? (no dirty thoughts please lol)
 
Originally posted by: fallenangel99
Originally posted by: djheater
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

so how would you tighten a nut when it refuses to go down the bolt?? (no dirty thoughts please lol)
Click to expand...

You have it on correctly? If it's crooked you'll strip the threads and that's a bad thing.
 
Originally posted by: jtusa4
Originally posted by: fallenangel99
Originally posted by: djheater
As a parent, (MichaelD, I'm sure you'll agree), I hope this NEVER happens to my kids... I get them involved in all the guy stuff I do (they're both girls) and let them help out till they're bored... Kids need hands on experience or else they won't know how to tighten bolts...!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

so how would you tighten a nut when it refuses to go down the bolt?? (no dirty thoughts please lol)
Click to expand...

You have it on correctly? If it's crooked you'll strip the threads and that's a bad thing.
Click to expand...



yup its on correctly, i tripled-checked. its not crooked. I just tried Michael D's method and it worked great!!

Altho its a pain in the ass, since there is no space (this is right where the bottom wheel meets the base, you only have about 3 inches to move left to right, and 1 inch top to bottom!!)
 
Originally posted by: Yossarian
I can't believe you even have to ask how to do this. In case you don't know this bit either, righty tighty, lefty loosy.
Click to expand...


uhhh i knew that much. perhaps you should re-read the whole thread. just wanted to know how to tighten it tighter, since there was no space between the base and the wheel for the wrench to move around.

Can't wait till its done. It will be schooling time.
 
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