Broke the head off a bottle cage bolt and can't extract it
10-20-10 | 10:12 PM
#1
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Broke the head off a bottle cage bolt and can't extract it
I was going to put some water bottle cages on an old Trek Hilo 1000 that I sometimes ride in the morning when I have time. 3 of the 4 screws came out with no problem, the last one fought until I over-torqued it and broke the head off (something I never remember not to do even after dozens of times).
Now, the screw is stuck in the frame, and I am exhausting all the ways I know how to get it out. Because of the design of the frame, the hold is recessed enough to where I couldn't use pliers of any type to grab anything. It also made it impossible to use the hacksaw trick. I have drilled out the center and used screw extractors with no luck. It looks to me that the screws are all anodized aluminum, and the metal is so soft that the extractors just take away more material.
Without being able to head to a Trek dealer until the end of the week, it seems there is no way to get the screw out without destroying the hole. The only other thing that looks possible is by removing the inset piece that I have attached a picture of. It moves slightly but is probably epoxied in and/or held in place by the paint on the bike itself. Anyone have any other ideas that might work?
Now, the screw is stuck in the frame, and I am exhausting all the ways I know how to get it out. Because of the design of the frame, the hold is recessed enough to where I couldn't use pliers of any type to grab anything. It also made it impossible to use the hacksaw trick. I have drilled out the center and used screw extractors with no luck. It looks to me that the screws are all anodized aluminum, and the metal is so soft that the extractors just take away more material.
Without being able to head to a Trek dealer until the end of the week, it seems there is no way to get the screw out without destroying the hole. The only other thing that looks possible is by removing the inset piece that I have attached a picture of. It moves slightly but is probably epoxied in and/or held in place by the paint on the bike itself. Anyone have any other ideas that might work?
10-20-10 | 10:21 PM
#2
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
You have an aluminum frame right? then it's a Rivnut. wait till,
you can get to the bike shop.
they can remove the rivnut,
and install another, next time grease all the small bolt threads.
If it is an aluminum bolt ,
perhaps, a little hole drilled will let you screw it in further..
Till it falls inside. then take it out thru removing the BB ..
you can get to the bike shop.
they can remove the rivnut,
and install another, next time grease all the small bolt threads.
If it is an aluminum bolt ,
perhaps, a little hole drilled will let you screw it in further..
Till it falls inside. then take it out thru removing the BB ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-20-10 at 10:26 PM.
10-20-10 | 10:25 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,579
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From: Pearland, Texas
Bikes: Cannondale, Trek, Raleigh, Santana
YingYang, You might try putting the EZ Out in a drill, spool it up to medium fast in reverse and then plunge it into the screw, it's worked for me on steel screws.
Brad
Brad
10-21-10 | 09:43 PM
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I think I am going to go with fietsbob's idea of just going to a Trek dealer. The screw is definitely stuck in the rivet nut and holding strong. Because of the frame geometry, the hole I drilled is slightly off center and at an angle that makes brute force and/or speed more likely to do additional damage. I don't expect to be using rivet nuts again soon, and the Trek dealer might even be able to match the red paint which is why I think the dealer route is the best choice. I will see what they have to say when I go in this weekend.
