Bicycle Mechanics - Tightening chainring bolts?

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robtown
03-11-07, 05:10 PM
I was hoping to get my SS set up to commute tomorrow and have some issues with the chanring. I have a chainring bolt combination that works but don't know the trick to tightening them down.
Assuming I won't get any specialized tool - is there a trick? My largest slotted screwdriver doesn't seem to grip the nut.

sestivers
03-11-07, 05:46 PM
If you are lucky, when you snug the bolt down while holding the nut with your fingers, afterwards the friction between the nut face and the inner face of the inner chainring will be enough to hold the nut stationary while you torque down the bolt. Otherwise, be ready to stab yourself several times while trying to hold the nut in place with a screwdriver.
HillRider
03-11-07, 06:00 PM
Just a thought but you aren't trying to fit a single chainring using bolts intended for a double are you? Those would be too long and would never tighten adequately. A quick fix would be to stack a couple of washers under each nut to make up the needed thickness.

vpiuva
03-11-07, 07:28 PM
The tool is cheap, probably about $5 or so at your LBS. I know that doesn't help for tomorrow morning, though.
barba
03-11-07, 07:30 PM
Just a thought but you aren't trying to fit a single chainring using bolts intended for a double are you? Those would be too long and would never tighten adequately. A quick fix would be to stack a couple of washers under each nut to make up the needed thickness.

That is my guess too. Ask for short stack chainring bolts at the LBS if this is the issue.
robtown
03-11-07, 08:07 PM
That is my guess too. Ask for short stack chainring bolts at the LBS if this is the issue.
Yep, I'm batting about 190 now. I removed 4 bolts, took 90 minutes and a drill to get the fourth out. I ended up putting the big chain ring on for now - until I can get shorter bolts. [btw - I had extra bolts - I thought the Nasbar ones were shorter]
Guessed correctly on the chain length put popped the rivet out all the way. Got that back on the chain but had to redo on the bike :eek:
The chain is on nice and tight on the SS side and she's set for the morning ride. It's been 10 days since my last ride so it's going to be great no matter what.

Thanks all.
Grand Bois
03-12-07, 09:25 AM
On every ss I've built, the length of the bolts was not the problem. The nuts on the back side needed to be shortened. I use a bench mounted sander. The modification doesn't show, so why buy new parts?
HillRider
03-13-07, 08:58 AM
On every ss I've built, the length of the bolts was not the problem. The nuts on the back side needed to be shortened. I use a bench mounted sander. The modification doesn't show, so why buy new parts?

OK, one way or another it seemed the OP's original bolt/nut combination was too long to tighten properly. The cure was to buy shorter bolts/nuts or, as you do, shorten the ones you already have.