Coin door bolts in tight spot

timerunner88

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2014
Messages
2,158
Reaction score
252
Location
Houston, Texas
For some reason my Nintendo HeliFire cabinet has coin door bolts that are literally touching the middle of the opposing coinbox wood platform. I've tried unscrewing the wood platform but it appears to be glued or stapled in. Anybody ever have to get a bolt off in this tight of a space. It's driving me nuts (no pun intended) and I don't want to damage this super rare cabinet by ripping out anything just to get to a bolt. I've tried turning the carriage bolt from the outside but of course it's not happening.

889441496afe8dc82888b0389a77d417.jpg
 
Last edited:
Yep, I ran into the same thing a few years back. I ended up going to an auto parts place to pick up a thin wrench. Your typical hardware store won't likely have them thin enough. That did the trick.

I would do some measuring before you make the trip to save yourself the hassle of buying wrong Pat's and having to return them.
 
I cut out a 2 inch by 2" U shaped notch in the wood with a jig saw. This gives you room to use conventional tools to get the nut off.
 
Looks easy to grab with a thin wrench. Try using open-ended wire strippers with the grippy part on the end.
 
Looks easy to grab with a thin wrench. Try using open-ended wire strippers with the grippy part on the end.

It was definitely not easy. I had to dislodge the wooden platform to get to the bolts in the end. It was glued to the sides so it took a little bit of effort with a rubber mallet before coming loose. I've yet to put it back together but when I do I'll put it back exactly in the same place and re-block. At least now it's easier to move the base if you want to (it's screwed in).
 
It's a really tight spot and it's not as easy as one might think to find a wrench thin enough.
 
Buy a thin wrench or fabiricate something. You know damn well the wood cabinet was built before anything like that was installed in the production line.
 
Back
Top Bottom