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To Blowtorch, Or Not To Blowtorch..that Is The Question


Shez.sheridan

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Right,

I've been waiting weeks for my new ti forks to arrive. I cut the steerer down, built my steed back up & within half an hours riding, I fell off a tree (there was a sort of hurricane here 2 weeks ago, so some big 70ft monster trees are down :D ) & snapped 3 spokes on my front wheel; all disc side - nice job Dave.

So, now I have to remove the disc - problem is though, neither I nor the Italian guy in the bikeshop could remove the torque bolts due to the fact that they've probably been loctited to death before I bought the bike.

So, Mr I-tie suggested that I should go up the road (always somewhat further than it looks on his dodgy map on a scrap of A4 paper), and speak to the guy who owns a blowtorch..

Now, I like thew idea, pure & simple - but a bit on the brutal side perhaps..as I'm sure Mr Monty/Myself wont be too happy when the disc/hub etc become discoloured & damaged (I expect) from the heat..

Things that would take one hour in your local bike shop, seemingly take days if not weeks over here - Tis a tad frustrating as I've rode 1/2 hour in 6 weeks..

So - To blowtorch, or not to blowtorch...that is my question?

Derv

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Get a torx head, the ones that fit into most multichangeable screwdrivers etc and place it into a ratchet.... stick a long solid pole on the ratchet and use the pole tp lever the bolt undone. I'd like to see any torx bolt that can withstand being twisted with a 6 foot pole for leverage.

Mine were in a bit tight too, i just used a screwdriver to get mine off (one with the multichange head fitting) and i managed to bend the torx head so it spiralled instead of being straight all the way down. Got the bolts undone though.

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I have used a 'Torx' (sorry..lol) tool, and so has the bike shop, but the tools have just skipped out of the bolt, damaging tool & bolt every time we tried..

Does pouring a kettle full of boiling water over it help...I know it has worked for some people, but it's sods law it won't work for me..I think its worth a go though, as I think a blowtorch is better as the last resort?

Derv

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The best and most foolproof way in my experience is: take a file to the heads and file spanner flats on, then use a shifter and unscrew em. Tapping the bolts with a hammer, tapping not walloping, and pouring boiling water onto the bolts can also help as they will break the loctite bond. (Y)

Good Luck. I find the best way to try is: torx key, spanner flats, if those fail go to the drill and the eas out. (Y)

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Oh i just forgot to mention what my mate jay did to get his old rotor off. He got an angle grinder and very carefully ground off the heads of each and every bolt on his rotor... only skimmed the rotor once so if you were careful you could easily do it without marking your rotor.

Once the bolt heads were all off he lifted the rotor off and got some mole grips onto the little bits of bolt that were lift still sticking up... and they came out so easily. The heat from angle grinding them had loosened them up and a couple were easily taken out by hand without the need for mole grips.

Edited by Krisboats
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problem solved for everyone with rounded off bolts etc etc

these babys will solve everything

IPB Image

known as superwrenches, you should be able to get them off ebay, kelkoo etc

my uncle uses these on rounded bolts. anyone that knows about these will know how useful they are.

they can unscrew/undo any stuck bolt/screw of any kind. i highly recomend in buying these.

JK

Edited by J-KAY
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problem solved for everyone with rounded off bolts etc etc

these babys will solve everything

IPB Image

known as superwrenches, you should be able to get them off ebay, kelkoo etc

my uncle uses these on rounded bolts. anyone that knows about these will know how useful they are.

they can unscrew/undo any stuck bolt/screw of any kind. i highly recomend in buying these.

JK

Howsat work? The more you pull the harder it grips??

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Cool, not gonna work very well on round headed bolts then? :->_<

thats the whole idea of them. they undo rounded off bolts etc. made for round tubing i.e plumbing. i use them all the time. it helped me get out rounded shagged bolts out from the bashplate and loadsa other stuff

JK

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No, no no, the round bolt heads, as in the ones which have a concave head on em, like an upside down bowl, there'll be no way for them to get a grip.. :(

EDIT See, no way to get a decent grip. :(

post-20-1152751306_thumb.jpg

Edited by div
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" When in doubt, Burn the bugger's out"- blowtorch :D

Just be careful.

On a serious note, I think the cutting a slot into each of tyhe heads and being very careful use a screwdriver to get them out.

If you cant get em out with the torxbolt fitting youll never get em out with a screwdriver ...

Drill the top off then use those superwrenchy things or molegrips

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