How to Remove the Fishwire Tool From Bolts When Installing Hitch on 2008 Mazda 3

Updated 06/24/2019 | Published 06/21/2019

Question:

Im showing my tool ignorance here, but what is the proper way to remove the fish wire from the end of a bolt once the bolt has been pulled into place? The coil acts like those novelty finger handcuffs, where trying to unscrew it causes the wire to just grip tighter. I was able to remove the wire from the first bolt by putting my fingernail in the bolts thread channel to hold the wire still, then spinning the bolt however, for the other 3 bolts, I didnt have enough room to do that. I Ended up bending the coils to pop them off. That method stretched/straightened a few coils with each bolt, so by the time Id done the last bolt, the coils were basically destroyed. I assume theres some simple trick Im missing to remove the wire without destroying it, but I cant figure out what it is.

asked by: Sean

Expert Reply:

When using the included fishwire tool, also known as a bolt leader, when installing a trailer hitch like the Curt Trailer Hitch # C11386 that fits a 2008 Mazda 3, the bolt leader will simply thread on and off the bolts. There isn't a trick to it, per se, and trying to remove it from the bolt should not have made it grip tighter (though I do appreciate your analogy to "novelty finger handcuffs") unless you were also pulling on it at the same time.

I can't say for sure why this may have happened in your instance but it really is as simple as threading and un-threading the leader from the bolts.

expert reply by: Kyle S