Ideas for removing a stripped nut from a post?

Apologies if this has been covered somewhere already, but I've recently come into the possession (thanks to a less-than-scrupulous eBay seller) of a ball lock corny with a post that I can't for the life of me get off.

It looks like a formerly hexagonal bolt has been stripped of its edges, making it impossible to get a grip on with a wrench. See photos here:

http://imgur.com/a/8I9uD

Has anyone else encountered this before?

(The seller is insisting that I shouldn't have any need to remove the post, but since the keg was previously used for soda and not reconditioned, I'm assuming I need to replace the o-rings, clean, sanitize, etc....)

 

I assume you've tried pliers and channel locks...?

 

Vicegrips.

 

Pliers, vice grips, or channel locks. Hot water may help...last resort try putting a plumbers torch on it gently. Could be locked on with 20 years of soda syrup.

If that fails....grinder w/ cut off wheel?

 

small pipe wrench

 

try to get a pipe wrench on it.

 

Small Pipe wrench and rendered Cheese oil/Grease kinda like wd 40 but food safe
Veg oil is to thick! Its cheaper to nuke some Cheddar than bye this

 

I also vote pipe wrench. Probably wouldn't hurt to have an extra set of hands too.

 

I usually cut a square with a grinder for a pipe wrench to be able to grab. If it is a small bolt cut a line for a flat head screw driver that you can add a wrench to.

 

A pipe wrench should grab that fine without grinding. I wouldn't want to risk damaging the keg.

 

or if you know an auto mechanic, we have all kinda tools just for this and pipe wrenches also.

 

If your not trying to save this piece meaning if it is destroyed but you only want it removed, try tapping on it with a ball peen hammer. You don't want to use a claw hammer because it can chip/break. Then go for vise grips or even a pipe wrench if you can get at it. I'm a mechanic myself and those are some tricks me and others use to remove stubborn stuff before having to resort to torches.

 

I vote for pipe wrench with 24 inch cheater bar. j/K

 

grind (or file) 2 opposite sides flat, then vise grips or pipe wrench. I also would go for a little heat with a propane torch.

Also, if your socket has flanges for the nut head, try buffing the socket flat so you have all the spans in contact with the nut. Sometimes these flanges will not allow for proper contact especially on slim nuts like that.


good luck !


Black

 

Pipe wrench or vice grips. The latter is my tool of choice for things like that. I could have that off of there in a blink.

 

A 3/4" 1/2"drive stud extractor has never failed to remove a post. the post will need to be replaced though.

 

how about a good ol, easy-out?

 

A borrowed pipe wrench did the job. Thanks all!

 

Woot!