Replacing ceiling fixture

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jmc0319

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So my son decided to replace an old ceiling fixture with a new one. He took the opening down and found this. The two long bolts are actually coming through the top of the plastic box. Any ideas what this is and how you take that metal cross bar off so he can install the new light?ImageUploadedByHome Repair1408311112.464256.jpg


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unscrew them or leave them there and mount the new light onto them.
 
As noted above...they are just studs...screws without a head. Unscrew them either by hand or with a pair of pliers.
 
The new light won't fit over them and they can't be unscrewed. Very odd.


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they can be unscrewed (either CW or CCW). If you can't get them unscrewed then cut them off.
 
So that cross piece is part of the "junction box"?


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jmc0319 said:
The two long bolts are actually coming through the top of the plastic box.
Click to expand...

You might have to get creative with this one - do you have access to the top of the box?

I take it you need this box to present female screw threads, 6-32 or 8-32 or 8-24, with a certain on-center spacing and maybe these two need to be oriented in a certain way with respect to the walls.
If you do it with threaded spacers,
http://www.google.com/search?q=thre...rt.com%2Fjaibhavanimata%2Fspacer.html;250;250
to make room you may need to lower the fixture slightly with a thick, fire-resistant medallion or escutcheon plate.

Or you could make or buy two of these
http://www.google.com/search?q="nut...ww.durattract.co.za%2Fservinject.html;230;153
and epoxy the holders to a nearby surface.

And sometimes these
http://www.google.com/search?q=moly...disaster-need-hanging-techniques.html;400;300
come in handy.

It's not like you'll be replacing this every month.
 
Last edited:
NO, the cross piece should not be part of the ceiling box. How much muscle did you put on the bolts? Did you use vise grips really tight? Did you use a long handled channel lock?

By cutting a groove close to the very top of the bolt, you can then grab it and break it off.

No need to be creative when brute force can suffice. :D
 
Find two nuts that fit the threads and put them both on one stud and lock them together now you can put a wrench on the lower on give it a turn once a little movement you can remove the nuts., you are turning them to the right to make them go up.
The bolts were likely put there to carry a heavy fixture.
 
All great info. Thanks guys will let you know how we make out.


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