Worn head on allen bolt on seat-post collar

OleRodrigo

Anyone had this problem ? The head on the allen bolt has lost its sides so the allen key cant get a grip.

Seems to be two ways to fix it:

- Drill off the head and hope the screw shaft comes out easily.

- Solder or weld a key into the head and loosen as usual.

Melodeon

Hammer in a suitably sized Torx bit, you might get lucky.

lennymc

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Anyone had this problem ? The head on the allen bolt has lost its sides so the allen key cant get a grip.

Seems to be two ways to fix it:

- Drill off the head and hope the screw shaft comes out easily.

- Solder or weld a key into the head and loosen as usual.

Get a torx bit. That should work

Brian?

OleRodrigo wrote: »

Anyone had this problem ? The head on the allen bolt has lost its sides so the allen key cant get a grip.

Seems to be two ways to fix it:

- Drill off the head and hope the screw shaft comes out easily.

- Solder or weld a key into the head and loosen as usual.

Or the correct way, use an easy out drill bit.

tomwaterford

Get a slightly bigger star/torc head and hammer it into the head and turn it

Get a hammer and chisel and hammer it around to get it turning

Failing them...steel rod them out



(While not on bikes I do work opening Allenhead bolts which are rotten/rounded regularly)

OleRodrigo

Think I have a torx bit, I'll try that first

OleRodrigo

Torx bit wont fit as is. Its too late to start hammering - will try tomorrow.

JBokeh

If you've an angle grinder with a thin slitting disc you can cut the bolt in half through the clamp where it splits, open the clamp out a bit with a screwdriver and slide it out over the top of the seat tube. The grinder will slice through the alu bolt in a a matter of seconds so be careful you don't get too carried away and start cutting the frame

omri

see if you can get the screw extractor small enough to fit

kenmc

cut a slit, or better a cross, into the head (junior hacksaw or dremel) and use a screwdriver to extract it.
pretty sure either aldi or lidl had easy-outs there the other week

onthefringe

kenmc wrote: »

cut a slit, or better a cross, into the head (junior hacksaw or dremel) and use a screwdriver to extract it.
pretty sure either aldi or lidl had easy-outs there the other week

Aldi
Still there

Brian?

onthefringe wrote: »

Aldi
Still there

Seriously handy bits of kit.

diomed

Nobody mentioned buy a new bike?

OleRodrigo

diomed wrote: »

Nobody mentioned buy a new bike?

Lol...I did

Have to flog the old one now to make room