Bicycle Mechanics - Generic 14mm hex bolts for square-tapered cranks? LBS overcharging.

Stupid question perhaps, but is there a generic name for the bolts that fasten square-tapered cranksets in place? My local LBS charges $5 for a single bolt, which seems excessive since the 2 bolts will cost about a third of the price of the actual crankset! I'm hoping to find it at Home Depot instead. Just need to know what to ask for.

I think the bolt it uses was M10 or something like that...
I know someone else knows the answer to that :p

Home depot will maybe have it, but in some chinese grade 2 type crap. Try a real hardware store such as Ace or Tru Value. Tell them you need something higher strength than just the basic bolt. these need to be good and tight and nothing sucks more than snapping the head off a cheap bolt. The 14mm head is not how you'll find it, but by thread diameter and pitch and length. Most likely M8X1.0

Buy something like this.. it is better than just a bolt.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BB408F02-Sugino+Crank+Arm+Fixing+Bolt++Cap.aspx

My local LBS charges $5 for a single bolt, which seems excessive since the 2 bolts will cost about a third of the price of the actual crankset!

A $30 crankset? I don't think that $5 is too bad.

Stupid question perhaps, but is there a generic name for the bolts that fasten square-tapered cranksets in place? My local LBS charges $5 for a single bolt, which seems excessive since the 2 bolts will cost about a third of the price of the actual crankset! I'm hoping to find it at Home Depot instead. Just need to know what to ask for.

That's really not unreasonable. Places like bike tools etc have them for about $5 pair + shipping, so $5 singly and on hand doesn't seem too bad.

To the OP, I have a bunch of these, so PM me if you want a pair for $4.50 including postage.

EDIT/clarificarion, I'm offering SR brand 14mm hex head crank bolts. The exact ones that were supplied with their mid line spindles and bottom brackets. Not fancy but good.

The threading is indeed M8x1.0 (not the far more common M8x1.25) so your average hardware or Home Depot isn't likely to have them in the correct threading and length. Take FBinNY up on his offer. It's a very good deal.

I think you need to find a different bike shop. That's the sort of thing I always had tons of in the spares bin, and would just give away.
They're like valve caps. They reproduce at night when the lights go out, I'm sure of that.

If it's a regular hex head bolt, you could probably find it for half that price at a good hardware store. It's fine thread, mind you, and you'd want grade 10.9 or higher.

If it's a crank arm fixing bolt, like such:
http://images.jensonusa.com/large/bb/bb408f02_____8.jpg
Then it's not a bad deal.

Personally I`m getting really tired of `LBS is overcharging` threads.

Those nuts are high strength, with a low profile head and a thread spec that you won`t find at the local hardware store. If you want to include cap screws made for the same purpose then there are easily a dozen different sizes and styles depending on the crankset manufacturer.

If you really feel$5 is too much to drag someone away from repair work to dig up a specialty item for you - I suggest you burn your bike in protest. Any filling in your teeth cost a lot more and uses a lot less metal and I don`t hear people arguing with their dentist about costs. Local bike shops actually have a hard time in a business thats very seasonal.

Maybe when most have disappeared and what you need to fix your bike is unavailable at any price you`ll appreciate what you had more.

A $30 crankset? I don't think that $5 is too bad.


I am a late comer to the thread but I was thinking the same thing.

Personally I`m getting really tired of `LBS is overcharging` threads.

Those nuts are high strength, with a low profile head and a thread spec that you won`t find at the local hardware store. If you want to include cap screws made for the same purpose then there are easily a dozen different sizes and styles depending on the crankset manufacturer.

If you really feel$5 is too much to drag someone away from repair work to dig up a specialty item for you - I suggest you burn your bike in protest. Any filling in your teeth cost a lot more and uses a lot less metal and I don`t hear people arguing with their dentist about costs. Local bike shops actually have a hard time in a business thats very seasonal.

Maybe when most have disappeared and what you need to fix your bike is unavailable at any price you`ll appreciate what you had more.
I agree entirely with what you said. It's just that some items, such as the bolts in question, never need to be ordered in. They just accumulate on their own.

The OP will understand being kept to minimum wage then.. it goes around..


Or try running your own Bike shop business, and see what that side of the relationship feels like ..
Keeping multiple wholesale accounts paid off to cover the in store inventory that has not sold, as 1 part , your Employees need to have income .. out of business overhead
Store Rent Insurance ,Banks , accountants The Tax Man, and all that .

Every time I have gone to my LBS for a small item they have just given it to me and say don't worry about it. I did give the guy a $5 last time. I was feeling guilty about the stuff they do for me with no charge.

I agree with BURTON, paying $5 is not the end of the world. I have noticed with my LBS that the price goes down as I get to known the guys. If you are a regular and loyal customer, they will start to offer discounts and parts for free. I could easily find parts over the internet at a more competative price, but I choose to shop at my LBS. I'm paying for the chat, the knowledge and the community spirit.
Remember, the next time you have a serious problem with your beloved bike, you can't take it to the local hardware store and ask the school kid working the counter if he knows how to chase your bottom bracket shell!

anything in my "oh sh*t" bin or save my ass drawer is usually free. most bbs come with bolts so there should be tons floating around

I have a $30 crankset on my KHS - Sugino Impel 700. Not bad at all, IMO. I think I got it on super sale, though.

Besides the threading, aren't crank bolts hardened? Not your standard hardware store stuff.

8.8 or 10.6 steel alloys . price one at the Auto Parts store .
$5 is looking better all the time.

mcmaster-carr part number

91180A527 (http://www.mcmaster.com/#91180A527)

more than 10$ but you will never have to buy one again, since you get 25 for $5.32 + shipping

Or just do what the cheapskate bubbas around here do.....find something "close" they found in their JOBOX and just torque it in there, demolishing the threads in the process... at least the crank will probably never come of again..... LOL

mcmaster-carr part number

91180A527 (http://www.mcmaster.com/#91180A527)

more than 10$ but you will never have to buy one again, since you get 25 for $5.32 + shipping

Heck, order a couple of lots of them to justify the shipping charge and stand outside your LBS offering them for $2/pair.

Grab a Fastenal or McMaster Carr catalog, sit down and figure out what the rest of the world calls each fastener on each type of bike, and turn a good profit selling them at half of "bike part" prices.

Heck, order a couple of lots of them to justify the shipping charge and stand outside your LBS offering them for $2/pair.

Grab a Fastenal or McMaster Carr catalog, sit down and figure out what the rest of the world calls each fastener on each type of bike, and turn a good profit selling them at half of "bike part" prices.

Yeah, gonna make a lot of money selling a bolt or two per week for $2.