Originally Posted by
iSamurai
Yeah, all five of them are on, two of them stripped but they're tighter than the rest so they won't fall apart. I've got another five from my old chainrings that I can use, and I've ordered some replacements already.
OP, are you saying the bolt and rear "nut" aren't spinning freely or coming apart, but you just felt the threads starting to deform? Is that what you mean by stripped, but on there and tighter than the rest? Fully engaged, very tight, just damaged? Or did you mean the hex and/or Torx openings were stripped, not the threads at all. If either of those is the case, I would just let the whole thing be and not worry about it until it is time to change rings again, which may be never. If the rings are on good and tight on all five bolts, I wouldn't risk a further screw up using the drill. Unless of course, the aesthetics are a problem. I certainly understand that.
If it is the heads that are stripped, not the threads, there are other solutions like "easy outs" or even an impact wrench might be helpful.
Robert