bkirkwd52@gmail

I have a carbon Cervelo RS. The BB cable guide bolt is frozen. Don't want to push it any more as I fear stripping it. The cable guide it self is plastic and of course the frame carbon so heating the bolt isn't a good idea.

As most bolts are on bikes, it is an internal hex head.

Any thoughts?

dsbrantjr

Have you tried a good soak with Kroil (or second-best PB Blaster) before attacking the bolt?

You might also try applying Drive Grip https://www.vibra-tite.com/products/...ite-drivegrip/ and using a new, good-quality hex driver.

If you don't mind sacrificing the cable guide you could fracture it away from the bolt and grip the head with locking pliers.

JohnDThompson 

I assume you've already applied a penetrating oil. If not, do so and give it some time to work its way in. I wouldn't worry about stripping it, if it happens you can cut a slot in the head and use a screwdriver to back it out. Failing that, cut the guide into pieces to remove it, grab the bolt with a vise-grip and turn it out that way.

HillRider

Is there any reason you need to remove the cable guide? If it is damaged, any bike shop has a drawer full of new ones since they come with every Shimano and Campy aftermarket shifter set and you can probably have one for the asking. As dsbrantjr suggested, sacrifice the old one to get to the bolt with pliers.

aggiegrads

Are you worried about stripping the bolt or the frame? Bolts are cheap.

dsbrantjr

I believe he converted the bike to DI2.

JohnDThompson 

And cable guides can be attached with adhesive instead of a bolt, if the frame fitting does get stripped. it doesn't need to be a strong adhesive, just something to hold the guide in place if the cables lose tension. Double sided tape ought to suffice.

FBinNY 

The fundamental question here should be "Is there an solid reason to remove it?"

Unless the cable guide is broken or worn through, there's no reason to remove the bolt in the first place. Of course, it might get worse over time, but you may never live to where it's actually necessary to remove the bolt and replace the cable guide.

However, if you must remove it, you have a few choices, the simplest being drilling in through with a 3mm or smaller drill, then using an easy out on the remaining tube, or enlarging that to 4mm, and trying to retap. Or you can drill it out totally and use a blind rivet or glue to hold the replacement guide.

It's possible that if you destroy the plastic guide around it and remove it, you'll have enough sticking out that you can grab it with locking pliers and turn it out.

So, you have options, but I would wait to cross that bridge until I got to it.

bkirkwd52@gmail

Thank you all for your replies. First, yes, I converted to Di2 and ran all cables internally so freeing this bolt is not necessary; however, I wanted to know what to do to remove it if I wanted or needed. As the threaded female part is fixed in the frame, I want to be careful not to damage the frame.

I have not yet tried something such as liquid wrench or other penetrating oil. I wanted to be sure I was not doing damage to the frame, whatever method I used.

Bob