Stripped Triple Clamp Allen Bolts

[Vespa no more]

Long story short: hammer a ring spanner onto the bolt head


Allen bolts were stripped. Had tried a number of options: presoak with WD40, light tap with something heavy (hammer), ... no movement ... blow torch, allen key and vice grips, dremelled a slot across the top, impact driver... nothing!

Was suggested by a friend that I weld a ring spanner to the bolt head. Not wanting to waste a good spanner, I found an older ring spanner and belted it onto the bolt head. impressed with how tight it was, I gave it a try and off it came. Welding it would definately have moved it but would only allow a quarter turn before contacting nearby metal work.


A good case for copper paste as a preventative.

Once the steering head was off - bearings revealed sticky old grease. thankfully bearings are serviceable.

Regards

Guy

[Martin]

WD 40 is a lubricant, but apparently pretty useless at moving frozen bolts, the best stuff is a mixture of acetone and auto trans fluid 50-50. There are comparisons on the web and this comes out as no 1. At the moment I am using a product called Inox seems to work OK, but might try the homebrew.
Regards Martin.

[Vespa no more]

I am a major fan of Inox - basically a marine version of WD40. Not cheap - $11 per can approx
Has lanoline through it and leaves an oily residue - bit like silicone spray
Great for stalling surface rust.
Beer in one hand Inox in the other you can spray away and think you've done some important maintenance.

WD40 is preferred by cyclists for cables and chains because of the lack of residue.

[Motorhobo]

I'm not seeing what you mean by 'belted' it to the bolt head. How did you get the splined spanner ring to get purchase on the round bolt head?

[Quiltzig]

When he says "belted" he means a dirty big hammer was used to whack the ring spanner onto the round head of the hex cap bolt. This is an example of Aussie colloquial language, which we Kiwis can translate!

[Quiltzig]

I agree with my mate of the ditch in Oz, that copper anti seize is a "must do" on these bikes.

[Motorhobo]

When he says "belted" he means a dirty big hammer was used to whack the ring spanner onto the round head of the hex cap bolt. This is an example of Aussie colloquial language, which we Kiwis can translate!

Thanks -- guess I shoulda figured that out. Never occurred to me that you could do that.

I tried the home-brew acetone and auto trans fluid 50-50 but the spray bottle I put it in lasted about a day. That can't be good for paint. I keep PB Blaster around, works pretty good if you give it long enough to work and the spray can keeps for a long time and is convenient.