Hello,

Let me just start by saying I love this forum and use it as a resource all of the time. This is actually the first time I have decided to post because usually I can find where someone else asked the question I want to ask. In this case I haven't been able to find someone having my current issue so I apologize in advance if this questions is redundant at all. If so, just point me to the correct thread.

Anyhow, I picked up a Schwinn Traveler III from a g-sale over the weekend for $15 and gave it a complete overhaul. It hadn't ever really been ridden but was stored under a house for thirty years.

Somehow in the process I lost the plate that sits under the rear derailleur nut and holds the cable to the derailleur. That's all fine and good as I've already ordered a replacement part off of ebay.

The problem is that the nut and bolt are together on the derailleur(I was trying to keep things together for ease) and whenever I try to turn the nut to loosen it I also turn the bolt. I think I may have to cut them off if no one has a better suggestion.

If I do cut them off, how do I get the bolt back into that tiny part of the rear derailleur where it goes? It doesn't seem like the derailleur can be taken a part in a way that allows access to that area.

Thanks!

How did you get the little plate off in the first place of you can't remove the nut?

Try pulling on the nut as you unscrew it; there's likely to be a square shank or something under the bolt head to stop it turning.

Excellent question! When I first took things a part I was able to remove the nut no problem. It was only after I put it back on there for storage that I ran into the problem.

Perhaps pulling the nut will do the trick. I thought I had the bolt all the way flush when I tried it but I wasn't really pulling. I will give it a try. Thanks!

Is this what your talking about?


Edit; okay I see the problem. The first thing I would try is take a thin bladed screw driver and wedge it between either edge of the round bolt head and the body of the derailleur. Since it hasn't been like this very long, it should take too much to hold it in place.

Yes! That is exactly the unit I'm talking about. I will also try the thin blade screwdriver, if pulling on the nut while loosening doesn't work, which I don't think it will.

I'm at work right now so I probably wont be able to let people know what happens until tomorrow.

Thanks!

Any further tips are very welcome.

If all else fails, long-nose visegrips.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

10 minute solution = Cut bolt w hack saw. Take out high and low limit screws and flex unit to permit access for inserting new bolt.

Extra credit = buy a bolt w a square head so this doesn't happen again.

I did get a few cosmetic scrapes on the unit from sawing. So, if you are worried about that stuff you might want to tape the unit first.

I tried pulling on the bolt and wedging it w a screwdriver but no matter what that bugger still turned when I turned the nut.

Congrats - no amount of forum help will substitute for analyzing the problem and using your ingenuity to get around the "standard" way to do something.