Folding Bikes - Stolen! My Raleigh Twenty frame bolt

Yes it's true - some total spod stole my saddle, light fixing, rear mudguard and most importantly the original L-shaped frame bolt from my Raleigh Twenty on friday night. Out of spite because they couldn't get the whole bike - it's saddening but what one comes to expect living in a city...

Anyway - Just been to the LBS to see if I can find a replacement bolt - not an actual Raleigh one - just one with an allen top that will keep the frame in one piece - but they only have metric ones and this is - naturally - an imperial size and something they don't have..

Does anyone have an idea what size it is so I don't have to lump my non-working bike round all the hardware stores to find a fit? It's somewhere between a metric M8 and M10. I'm a child of the 70's and 80's so I don't really do inches...

Any help appreciated as I am bike-less until I get a replacement.
Huw :)

Whaattt! That Worm! *Stomps on the worm*... I have actually sometimes worried a little about this as well. I am afraid i can't help you with the sizing, i did notice when i looked at my bolt that the threading looks really large/course. Maybe Sheldon could help out, in his long love affair with Twenties he must have had to replace a bolt in all likelyhood.

Is an M8 equal to 5/16ths inch?

http://www.precisionscrewandbolt.com/metric.htm

I wish I could provide you with the info you need. If no Twenty owners chime in with the precise information you need, I offer this.

Your missing bolt is likely either 5/16 or 3/8". Both of these sizes come in two thread pitches. Determine the length you need, make one trip and buy four bolts - one each of the following:

5/16-18
5/16-24
3/8-16
3/8-24

Perhaps if you explain your situation, the shopkeeper will let you return what you don't use.

Good Luck,

— Spalding

I'm guessing it's prolly the 3/8" size as 5/16" seems to be pretty identical to M8 on my ruler which was clearly too small by quite a bit. Thanks for the heads up on the thread pitch though - I wouldn't have known that!

Thanks for your help people - this forum rocks when something as crazy-specific as this comes up!

i can measure my bolt if somebody can tell me how. haha.

What a jerk.I hope you can find a replacement Part.

I got a 3/8" yesterday and it fits... but it's a little long (2") and the thread doesn't go all the way to the top of the bolt but I can pad it with washers until I find a more suitable replacement. There seems to be a mite more frame flex than with the original (which has that mid section with no thread). I'm sure it be better with a shorter one which I've ordered. Actual replacements are harder to find. Don't you just hate it when you email a supplier with a query only to be totally ignored. Hmph!

Thanks for your help people!