Bicycle Mechanics - Stripped Bolts

Hey there, quick question. I've got some LX levers on Answer Double Wall Riser bars, and somehow, both bolts on the levers have be stripped. Any suggestions on getting the levers off, as I have new XTRs to put on. Worst comes to worse I'll take a saw or something to the plastic, and just break the levers.

ANy suggestions?

Byron

Ask someone for a reverse tap or quick outs, basically you take a very small drill bit, bore a new hole into the bolt head and screw in a reverse thread and then as you turn it (opposite to the screw thread) it tightens and the original bolt loosens.
Something like that anyway.
Car mechs use them often.

Hey there, quick question. I've got some LX levers on Answer Double Wall Riser bars, and somehow, both bolts on the levers have be stripped. Any suggestions on getting the levers off, as I have new XTRs to put on. Worst comes to worse I'll take a saw or something to the plastic, and just break the levers.

ANy suggestions?

Byron

Just what do you mean by stripped? Are you talking about the threads on the anchor bolts or are the allen heads rounded?

If the allen heads are rounded, (my guess) you can often get them loose by using a brand spanking new allen wrench from the store. Now take your old one and throw it away. Don't succumb to the temptation to keep it as a spare or you will have more rounded bolts to contend with. Other tricks include using a dremel tool to grind a screwdriver slot into the bolt head, using a left handed drill bit to remove the bolt, and drilling a pilot hole and using an EZ-Out to remove the old bolt. Since you don't care about the old shifters, you can use a drill bit the same size as the bolt and drill out the whole thing if you want to.

Another trick for stripped allen head bolts is to use a torx bit of the appropriate size and drive it in with a hammer.
You can also cut the bolt where it passes through the pinch point, if exposed.