Chewed up stake nuts

As per the title, previous owner of my new toy has badly chewed up the staked nuts and I don't really want to try anything without getting a bit of advice first.

32mm socket on breakers bar just slips as the stake wasn't ground away but I'm concerned that if I ground off the stake then there would be even less purchase when trying to remove it.

Options I'm considering are: Cutting/grinding the actual drive shaft and replacing it, grinding off the staked portion and hoping hitting it with a chisel and hammer will free it up, taking it to a garage and see if they can wrap their heads around the problem.

I have brand new ones to put on it and I'd like to avoid going down the route of replacing the drive shaft.

Suggestions on a post card

you shouldnt need to do anything to the stake , just undo ,undoing lifts the stake, if nuts too tight split in with a chisel across the center of a flat

Agree with James...split it with a chisel. Be carefull not to damage the threads. Can you put up a pic?

meego said:

Agree with James...split it with a chisel. Be carefull not to damage the threads. Can you put up a pic?

Click to expand...

Sure! http://i.imgur.com/sqo4Ceh.jpg

Didn't realise how blurry it is but you should see the state of it.

Edit: Here is a slightly better picture http://i.imgur.com/3uiBe7M.jpg

Looks half way rotted through as it is mate. I think a few skelps with the cold chisel should see that off.