Removing or replacing a (seriously) stuck hand rail

[ukchris]

I realize there are several threads on removing a stuck handrail, I think I've read them all and tried everything I can think of.

I bought a house with an in ground pool, first time owner, My first winter I didn't have a proper cover so I put a tarp over it and didn't remove the handrail, I now have a proper cover coming so the handrail needs to come out.

It took be about two hours to get the bolts out, they were so close to the rail and mounted parallel to the two posts on the inside so I could barely get 1/16 of a turn, finally got them out.

Next I started to wiggle, no joy, copious amounts of WD40, no joy, read here about tapping the bolt to release the wedge so I put them back in, tapped and removed them again. I think the post nearest the pool is now free but the other one is stuck fast.

Got a hold of the other end of the rail and wiggled, no joy. Used a 10' 2x4 as a lever, no joy and I swear it's about to crack!

Finally resorted to the jack out of my car, put a block on top and started winding. First the tubing started to flatten - I was so frustrated I decided I could live with that - then the jack started to twist - a jack designed to lift (a corner of) an SUV can't free it so I'm feeling pretty sure it's stuck.

So, what are my options? Unless the WD40 slowly loosens it and I try later (24 hours didn't loosen it) I figure I might be cutting it off and replacing it next year - is this viable?

If I get an angle grinder and cut it off will I be able to pound/cut the remainder and get it out?

I think I'd like to replace the mounts, they have clearly been there many years and are awkward, is that viable or are they going to be set in to the concrete?

Any better options? I was hoping maybe theres a design where the post expands rather than the in ground wedge. I'm tempted to go without a rail but I don't think that would be very safe.

Any help, advice or sympathy welcome!

Chris.

 

[kimkats]

Major sympathy heading your way!

Husband says get and try some PB Blaster. It is along the lines of WD40 but better.

My next idea is another set of hands.......can you have some one tap on the stuck part while you wiggle, tug, jack, etc. A rubber mallet will not mar it but might help do the trick.

Share a pic with us to make sure we really know what you are dealing with.

 

[ukchris]

Okay, here's a picture, note that this is after a lot of spraying, scraping etc - I don't have anything to compare to but I think it's a bit of a mess

I'd like to get it out, from what I've seen a new handrail is probably $100+ and new mounting sleeves $30+ each even before the amount of work and tool rental necessary.

I've tried the jack, levering with a 2x4, even beaten it with a hammer out of sheer frustration. The one to the left is closest to the pool, as you can see the bolt holes are located such that getting a wrench on them is a major challenge, if I were to replace them I'd be thinking I'd put new ones in rotated 90 degrees to allow me to at least get a wrench in there.



- - - Updated - - -

It looks like there is string bound in there interestingly enough as though they were once loose and a previous owner opted to put string in to bind it more tightly.

 

[Swampwoman]

Hi there...hubby comisserates, we had that problem last year...bent a jack just like you. In our case, HAD to get it out to install a new winter dome.

Here's what finally worked...hubby is a stubborn man, so after paid workers failed and left, he just kept wiggling it back and forth pretty much til the sun went down and after literally a few hours he did a back-forth-and-up motion and got it free.

He says be careful not to tear your distal bicep (which he did another time, another project )

We had used wd40 and I think at one point I might have poured some diluted muriatic acid down, thinking scale had fused it.

 

[kimkats]

Hummmmmmm see if you have something tiny and pointed that could get the "tread" out of there. Don't give up. Keep working on it off and on. There will be a wonderful feeling when you WIN!