3ttt Stem Bolt Question
 

I have a 3ttt stem marked "special" and "gran prix" on an old frejus. It's probably early to mid 60's - I got it with the bike.

The question that I have is that the stem bolt is about 1mm, and none of my allen tools fit.
Is there a source for these? I think although old, it's an odd size. The local shop that I used to help put the bike together had to borrow one. I didn't want them to go through the hassle again for something minor.

The reason that I ask is that my headset is loose - and in using the stem, I should probably get one.
I have a feeling that they're probably as popular as drop bolts...I appreciate any help in suggestions to find the tool.

Thanks.

Do you have a 7mm allen?

Most sets come with a 6mm and 8mm and leave out the 7mm

Yes - I think it could be 7mm. I have the bike at work and was using a ruler to measure.
It probably 7mm. I just have the really basic bike tool set.

A 7mm allen key is rare indeed. I was surprised to need mine this week. I have a Philippe stem that requires it. I started to panic, because it took me a while to find my 7mm.

I suppose if you don't have any luck, you could take an 8mm allen key and very carefully and patiently file it down. I've had to do this with nuts once or twice, and the results were barely acceptable, but I had little choice.

I didn't realize that 7mm were rare until I joined this forum. Some cheap-o set I've bought at Harbor Freight, or maybe even a Sears (non-Craftsmen) purchase had one in it so I'm set.

My Frejus stem is a 3TTT Record, but it seems like it was a 7mm.

I think that I may be in luck. Except - no one else is allowed to bid on this :)

It goes to show - that sometimes is good to ask the question, even if you don't measure correctly.
I guess this size was used in the 60's - which makes sense with my bike.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cinelli-7mm-Alle...item3a5383b625



http://i.ebayimg.com/17/!Bb+NC1gBWk~...rJFG!~~_35.JPG

Unusual for an LBS not to have a 7mm allen key? Ask a car mechanic to try a 7mm size in your bolt head. If that's not the right size, it might just be in one of the old "Imperial" sizes - measured in fractions of an inch, not in millimetres. They really are a different size to metric. The good news is that you can buy sets of both Imperial and Metric in good quality steel quite cheaply. Having said that, all of my TTT stem bolts are all 6mm, but they are from the 1970's and the size might have changed.

A Cinelli wrench. Make sure you wrap it in green, white and red

Ah, I see you've now sorted it - 7mm! Well done.

I wish it said "sears" instead of cinelli - but as long as it fits, that's what matters. We'll see...
Any guess on final bid price? I will report back if it's of interest...

Thanks all.

I got my last 7mm from Sears....it is Craftsmen. And of course I found the 7mm I knew I had and could not find the next day.

Just to follow-up. Good outcome - for $10 I was able to get the 7mm cinelli allen key. Not bad considering that it would take a while to find one. My first vintage eye-tal-e-on tool. I will wrap it in green, white, and red.

Thanks everyone for helping sort this out.



http://i.ebayimg.com/17/!Bb+NC1gBWk~...rJFG!~~_35.JPG

The secret is to stop looking for a 7mm Allen key/wrench and look for a 7mm hex bit or bit socket. I can go into any Canadian Tire store and get a bit socket or a whole set of bits for about $5.00. I imagine the major US auto/hardware chains would carry similar product.

Yup - I see that Sears has the hex bit for about $6. Now that I've spent $10 - I am sure not to lose it.

The Seller was nice enough to send me two 7 mm cinelli allen keys. Although the second one is a little rough - if someone wants it for the cost of postage ($2) - please pm me.

Sold...

Speaking of less common sizes anyone have any luck finding 11mm and 12mm hex keys? Most freehubs the classic and vintage people deal with would be 10mm I guess, though now they seem to be more common in 11 or 12, and I think even 14. I could never seem to come across keys larger than 10mm, I realize park makes em, but was wondering if there was a cheaper alternative out there