Saddle snapped off - bolt stuck in seatpost

andy69

Hi all, just wondering if anyone might have experienced something like this (see photo), where the bolt that goes down into the seatpost snapped off leaving the end of the bolt screwed down still in the seatpost....




....not sure it can be removed, probably have to buy a new seatpost but I was thinking that maybe someone had a similar issue, and there might actually be a way to remove it?

Areo seatpost, made by Oval Concepts, fitted on a Fuji SST 2.0 bike.

Hope you can help!
Andy

Garzard

Apologies for deleting that last reply - I rather idiotically confused the seat-post for the seat-tube. If it's a new purchase and came off while cycling, sending it back to the shop / manufacturer for a refund might be an option. Unless you can get hold of a replacement bolt and somehow get the broken piece out, a new seat post might be your best bet. Then again I'm no expert on bikes or parts.

Alek

You may try to drill a small hole in the part that cannot be removed and then use a bolt extractor to get it out:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Expert-45856-5-Piece-Extractor/dp/B0001K9UEG/ref=sr_1_6?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1409512365&sr=1-6&keywords=bolt+remover

Mech1

Should just spin out easy now that the tension is off it. Try flicking it anticlockwise with something sharp.

Mech1

well?

andy69

Oh such a day!

thanks guys for the suggestions!

I couldn't move the bolt myself, tried getting some WD40 down through it in case it had fused a bit or whatever, but no joy

Brought it to Cyclesuperstore on my way in to work this afternoon, and they kindly drilled in to it, and they had the bolt remover tool thingy that was mentioned above, so they got the bolt out, so that was fantastic!

but....of course it couldn't be THAT simple....the bolt is M7, which is pretty hard to find. CSS only had a 30mm one, but I need it at least 50mm to thread down into the seatpost properly. Also has to have a specific 'head' or 'cap' at the top as it needs to be able to go in at a slight angle, but the very nice chap in CSS gave me a little curved washer that will get a 'flat' headed bolt to do the job.

Also then went to a place called 'nuts and bolts' near my work here, and even they said it'd be hard to get that M7.
Even tried B-and-Q while I was out and about, and no joy there either (was hoping I could get one just while I tried to source the actual part from Oval).
Rang Chainreaction (where I got the bike) but they are closed today. Tried getting in contact directly with the Oval guys in US but of course they have a bank holiday today!

Have a workmate in Germany, so he's going to call the European suppliers for Oval Concepts (who are in Germany) for me in the morning - I guess they do speak English, but it's kinda awkward on the phone to get through to someone and explain....but he's a cyclist, and he's from Germany so he's calling for me

I'm gonna try a few places in the morning near home (midlands) and see if I can pick one up to get me back on the road.
Also noticed in the middle of my google searches this evening, that some brake bolts might be M7, so I'l hunt around the house and see if I have some bolts that might do the trick from old seized brakes or whatever I can find.

On the plus side....this has re-enforced my argument that I *do* in fact need a spare bike, and hopefully now will be allowed to buy one so in the future I won't get stuck again ha!

andy69

found some temp ones that might do the job (with the little curved washer I got today from the CSS guy) - actually found through a Volkswagen motors thread that started some time last year!

http://www.a2stainless.co.uk/M7-x-50-Socket-Capscrew-DIN-912-A2_ADTU.aspx

seems it might also be useful for people with Bontrager saddle clamps, so I've put the link in here in case someone does a search for M7 50mm bolt

andy69

little update...

after umpteen stops at motor factors, bike shops, motorbike shops, engineering specialists, agri stores and so on, I finally located an M7 bolt only 3km from my house (having driven around all morning!!) in a Tractor Spares shop of all places!

Temp bolt in place now, with the help of a few ugly washers - off out for a spin to test it! 2 spares on way from UK with allen key heads, and waiting on a reply from Oval in Germany to see when or how they can source a replacement for me.



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