Growing Things: Salvage cracked tree trunks by bolting them together

Q: I have a 20-year-old maple tree that is 30 feet tall. There are two main trunks that come together, forming a V. My problem is that the tree has developed a large crack in the middle of the V crotch of these two trunks. I am currently using a rope to keep the two halves together. I am wondering if I can put a bolt through the two trunks to save the tree?
A: You certainly can use a bolt to save the tree. I have done this successfully several times on large trees. On a tree your size you should