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Preventing theft of allen bolt parts

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Preventing theft of allen bolt parts

Old 01-15-11, 10:07 PM
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Preventing theft of allen bolt parts

What do you guys do to prevent theft of parts secured by allen bolts? I lock up my frame, rear wheel, and front wheel with one u-lock that goes through all 3 together at the rear. Even with this, I still had my fork, stem, handlebars, stem, and seat stolen.

What are my options? I've seen those bolts which have specific cut keys unique to each set, are these worth it? I've also heard putting a ball bearing in the allen bolts or putting superglue in them for a deterrent. Anything else?
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Old 01-15-11, 10:08 PM
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ball bearing and superglue.
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Old 01-15-11, 10:15 PM
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solder in the allen bolt. and a solder sucker for when you need to remove it.
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Old 01-15-11, 10:51 PM
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ride a crappier bike, something you don't need to worry about locking up, or just use copious amounts of locktight on everything so that people give up when trying to remove things
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Old 01-15-11, 11:09 PM
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Do a search for tamper proof machine screws. They make a allen head screw with a little stud in the middle. You use a special hex head wrench with a drilled out hole in the middle to install and remove them.




https://brycefastener.com/page.asp?homeID=68


Tom
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Old 01-15-11, 11:49 PM
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Originally Posted by MPC Biker
ride a crappier bike, something you don't need to worry about locking up
This. Make your "everyday" bike cheap, ugly, and undesirable. But still mechanically solid.
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Old 01-15-11, 11:53 PM
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It sounds like you're parking your bike in a bad place
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Old 01-16-11, 12:09 AM
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Replace everything with torque heads. Witch isnt as common.
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Old 01-16-11, 12:11 AM
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Move to somewhere less morally bankrupt.
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Old 01-16-11, 12:42 AM
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bringyourbikeinsidewithyou
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Old 01-16-11, 12:46 AM
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Errr what you can get, a thief can get aswell... hey who knows... nothing will stop a determined thief...
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Old 01-16-11, 12:56 AM
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Happy is right... Keep an eye on your bike.

Riders carry enough tools to take apart half there bike.

Thefts will probably will tooo....
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Old 01-16-11, 01:19 AM
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drop a bunch of caltrops around your bike.
bonus points if you dip the caltrops in cow poo
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Old 01-16-11, 01:25 AM
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Yeah it sounds like:

A) You are locking your bike up for way too long and
B) Your bike is a desirable target for thieves.

What the hell kind of thief steals a fork?
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Old 01-16-11, 01:28 AM
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Wait so he left the front rim?
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Old 01-16-11, 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by evilcryalotmore
Wait so he left the front rim?
Lol I guess OP locked his front wheel down.... there's no way to lock up a bike fork anyway.... all you have to do is to detach the locked front wheel, remove the bike stem via stem screws and starnut screw; and then fork can be easily slipped out (assuming OP had threadless)....
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Old 01-16-11, 02:23 AM
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Originally Posted by muckymucky
bringyourbikeinsidewithyou
This! If they let you..

I usually ask first, most places wont mind as long as you ask politely.
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Old 01-16-11, 02:24 AM
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That is really unfortunate, OP.

This thought has never really crossed my mind, mainly because the whole bike is usually stolen where I am from.
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Old 01-16-11, 02:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Anthropy
Do a search for tamper proof machine screws. They make a allen head screw with a little stud in the middle. You use a special hex head wrench with a drilled out hole in the middle to install and remove them.
I was looking for something like this a few years ago. I could not find anything in stainless, metric, in small quantities, from a place that will sell to you without a business license. Do you have a source?
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Old 01-16-11, 04:06 AM
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CaptainCool,

Anthropy in post #5 has a link to purchase these.

https://brycefastener.com/page.asp?homeID=68

Last edited by johnnyk; 01-16-11 at 04:14 AM. Reason: not complete
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Old 01-16-11, 08:55 AM
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You can buy them at McMaster Carr. Great company to deal with.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/115/3099/=am612t
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Old 01-16-11, 11:09 AM
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The bike was stolen from my campus on the busiest walkway. I'm actually surprised no one stopped them or saw it happening. It was stolen within a 50 minute period. I have a feeling someone had watched me, knew my schedule and what parts they needed and got it done quick. Unfortunately I cannot bring my bike inside. The front wheel I keep on quick release and lock up with the rear wheel and frame. They stole everything else possible, except the crankset/pedals.

Thanks for all the recommendations, I may end up going with tamper proof hex screws or one of the oddly shaped screws for more protection. I've temporarily rebuilt the bike with semi-cheap parts.
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Old 01-16-11, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Phiberglass
I have a feeling someone had watched me, knew my schedule and what parts they needed and got it done quick.
Sorry you got your bike stolen, but this definitely confirms what I said earlier:
Originally Posted by dsh
B) Your bike is a desirable target for thieves.
Nobody is gonna go through all that trouble to steal the cranks off of a ****ty beater conversion.

Sounds like you need a "campus bike".
Which, it's true, won't impress the girls quite as much.

But I'm guessing walking home with your arms full of whatever is left of your bike doesn't impress them either.
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Old 01-16-11, 11:32 AM
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I really feel sorry for you guys that have to worry this much about your bike. I can go anywhere in town and lean anything from my Langster to my Tarmac up against a tree and not worry about it being gone when I return.
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Old 01-16-11, 11:35 AM
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Where do you live?

And when/where do you next plan to leave your Tarmac leaning against a tree for an extended period of time?
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