Problems installing ground anchor

[julieann]

I tried to install a ground anchor today, to secure my new scooter to, but i bodged it up somehow and i could not get the screw bit of the anchor to thread into the bolt, it was as though the screw was not long enough as the anchor was quite thick.

I was using the bolts supplied with the anchor i bought of ebay, i think i must have been doing something wrong, i drilled a hole with a 14mm bit and banged the bolt in flush with the ground (it was an M8 bolt)

Does anyone have any idea what went wrong? also what bolts do i need to buy to try again? i can find them with nuts on top but not an alan key hole (as you can tell i'm not very knowledgable on DIY!)

Here is a picture of the kit I bought. Any help appreciated

https://i62.tinypic.com/1jkmly.jpg

[sickpup]

Right before we do anything else get a torch and look into the plug, can you see the nut bit at the end?
Try threading the bolt into the plug without the ground anchor in place as this will confirm if the nut is still in the plug.

[G]

Maybe a picture of what's going wrong?
Can't work out what the problem is or what exactly you've done.

Have you used this sort of expansion bolts before?

It may work better to pre-attach them, then push it into the holes, then tighten - prevents the expansion sections dropping down.

[julieann]

Thanks for the quick replies, i've drilled a hole, and banged in the bolts, and taken out the screw (with the alan key hole), but when i put the anchor in place and try to screw through to the bolt, the screw won't connect with the bit inside the ground,

But if i take the ground anchor away the screw bit will screw into the bit in the concrete,

I've never used bolts like these before, i just usually use plastic plugs when drilling in the house.

sorry if i'm not describing it very well, i'm not sure of the terminology

[julieann]

I will see if i can pull them back out again

[julieann]

I will take pictures, i'm going to try and get the bike moved into my back yard, at least then it won't be visible, i've got a narrow passageway to my back yard, it might be a tight squeeze, but it can stay there until i get the anchor sorted, I've managed to get the 16mm chain to fit though the wheel (very tight fit!) so thats better than nothing

[julieann]

Holes i drilled and put bolt in

https://i62.tinypic.com/1zeb72t.jpg

Screw attaches to thread in bolt and locks on

https://i59.tinypic.com/24lr9zp.jpg

But when i put ground anchor on the screw does not connect with the bolt

https://i59.tinypic.com/1zfm0e8.jpg

[G]

I'd try pre-attaching them - can probably leave them fairing loose, so you've got a bit of wiggle room to get them in. Just a few turns in.

[bugeye_bob]

have you tightened the bolts up before putting the anchor down,
that way the nut inside is closer to the top, and your bolts will reach when the anchor is down.

[Boris the spider]

[almostthere]

by banging the rawlbolts in you've knocked the nut off the bottom you should have attached the screws and bolts to the ground anchor then gently tap each one in a bit at a time
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[Ribenapigeon]

Drill out a bit more seating in the ground anchor holes?

[chickenstrip]

[Suntan Sid]

Buy some longer bolts, a few quid for a set of 4!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Adam80UK]

Those bits that go in the ground are fiddly and prone to coming apart. This may be of no help but if you try again, this is what I did...

Obviously drill the holes. Then put bolts through anchor and into the nights. Tighten up just as far as they don't move (so they are all way to anchor but don't then apply force to tighten).

Then put it over the holes and with a big rubber mallet whack the anchor on alternative sides until flat on the floor. Then fully tighten the bolts.

The method makes sure that everything stays in place.
____________________
Current: '07 Suzuki SV1000 & '07 Honda SH300i (again).
Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.

[iooi]

[dodgydog]

Put a couple of washers under the head of the allen bolt, (without the anchor in place). Tighten and you will feel the nut below getting pulled up and gripping into the rawlbolt body.

You will feel it start to "bite", and then the nut underneath will be held in place tightly.

Undo allen bolts, put anchor body back, nuts will be held tight......(oooh matron....etc etc).

Job jobbed.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not exactly what I meant

[Pete.]

Those rawl anchors are supposed to be on the bolt when pressed into the hole. I have fitted thousands and they can be re-used many times over. Here's the best way to fit your anchor:

Set the anchor on the floor and spot-drill the concrete through the plate with an 8mm drill. Don't go too far just about 25mm deep. If you drill it deeper the 14mm bit might jamb in the 8mm hole.

Remove the plate and drill the four holes about 25mm deeper than the rawlbolt. Flush the dust out of the hole with water from a pipe or watering can. If you have neither of those use cold water from your kettle and pour it from about knee height, the height will splash the dust out of the hole.

Poke the four bolts through the plate and screw on the fixings. Only screw them on until the top of the fixing touches the plate but not so far that it starts to draw in the cone. You check this be seeing that the three tabs on the thin end of the cone are still at the bottom of the slots in the side-plates.

Lift the whole anchor over the holes and carefully offer all four rawl shells in together. Lower the anchor to the floor and if any of the bolt heads start to lift just tap them gently down.

If you do this right your anchor will sit flat on the floor and you can just tighten the four bolts. The main thing is to have the anchor set right before putting it in the hole. If it's too loose the wedge will pop off the end of the shell. If it's too tight the wedge will expand the shell and make it bind.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[julieann]

Thanks for all the helpful replies

With a bit of perseverence i can get three out of the four gripping and working well, but, i made a mistake with the alignment of the holes, so only two on one end line up, the other two are out, so i drilled the holes in the wrong place (i know, not clever!)

I can't seem to get the bits that go in the ground out, so i'm going to need to get a couple more and drill some more holes making sure i get the alignment spot on.

I will be more careful fitting the other two, you've given me lots of tips on how to do a better job.

I could not get my bike into my back yard, it could fit through the alley way but i could not get it around the angle, I have the chain through the back wheel and through the ground anchor at the frount, i know the ground anchor is not totally functional at the moment, only have 2 bolts in and still having the allan key hole showing, but i've covered the holes up with the chain so it might at least be a bit of a visual deterrent .

I will update when i've finally got it sorted, thanks again.

[Pete.]

They are removable. The plant I use at work is fixed down using these (but M12/20mm hole) and we routinely pop them in and out. Screw the bolt into the nut until it touches down on the top then loosen it two turns. Tap the end of the bolt down and it'll release the taper. Now loosen the bolt a few more turns and pull the whole lot out. If it sticks just tap it down very gently once to loosen it and try again. If you can pump it up and down with your hand it should wiggle out, otherwise try gently levering it upwards and tapping the top lightly. You can also very lightly tap the top of the bolt sideways a bit to loosen it up but mind you don't flatten the edge of the countersunk bolt head.

After that, re-position the anchor and drill four more holes. Make sure the new holes are a good couple of inches from the first set.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[robs321]

If all else fails get some stainless steel studding, some chemifix and some security sheer nuts. All can be found at toolstation and much easier to use than expanding fixings!

[julieann]

Thanks for all the tips,

I have now got the ground anchor installed and i just the have the little ball bearings to put in the top of the alan key hole of the bolts, is there a technique for putting them in? or do i just hammer them in?

[MCN]

[julieann]

Thanks, i did try hammering but i don't think i tried hard enough, it made me wonder if i had to heat it up or something lol, I will get back out with the hammer

[Pete.]