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Fender installation question - How to shorten support stays?

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Fender installation question - How to shorten support stays?

Old 06-09-14, 10:08 AM
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Fender installation question - How to shorten support stays?

I've never gotten around to shortening the stainless steel support stays on my fenders, partly because the steel is so hard. I tried cutting them with wire snips, and it dented the tool. Anyone have any suggestions for simple way to shorten fender stays? A hacksaw would easily cut the stays, but would require that I remove the fenders from the bike first. I'm looking for the lazy man's option -- eg, a tool that would easily cut the stays and not cost a fortune.
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Old 06-09-14, 10:21 AM
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bolt cutter

you know you wanted to buy one anyway... they come in handy for all kinds of stuff. 18" should be plenty big.
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Old 06-09-14, 10:27 AM
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I marked mine with a sharpie, took them off, then with the stay secured in a clamp, shaved off the excess with a hack saw. Kind of a cave man method, but worked with my limited tool choice.
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Old 06-09-14, 10:42 AM
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I'm looking for the lazy man's option
bolt cutter
... thats the quick and easy one used at the LBS.. then file the end smooth ..

some , like the Planet Bike use a plastic collet , so the cut end is covered.
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Old 06-09-14, 10:54 AM
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I use a Dremel.
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Old 06-09-14, 10:57 AM
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I used a Dremel tool with a cut-off disc and then rounded the end with a grinder bit.
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Old 06-09-14, 11:10 AM
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+3 dremel
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Old 06-09-14, 11:13 AM
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Dremel, of course. Why didn't I think of that. I've got a Dremel that I rarely use, so that's a bonus.

It finally dawned on me last weekend that I should trim the stays after my shoes kept hitting them. Going on a bike tour next week and the toe striking would be very annoying.
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Old 06-09-14, 12:13 PM
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The Dremel is one of the most useful tools I own.
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Old 06-09-14, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
Dremel, of course. Why didn't I think of that. I've got a Dremel that I rarely use, so that's a bonus.

It finally dawned on me last weekend that I should trim the stays after my shoes kept hitting them. Going on a bike tour next week and the toe striking would be very annoying.

Put a piece of cardboard or something behind the stay while you cut it, so the sparks don't hit your paint.
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Old 06-09-14, 02:14 PM
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The Dremel would be too easy. I vote hacksaw, and don't be careful.

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Old 06-09-14, 02:23 PM
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I use a tubing cutter........ then just snap It off.
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Old 06-09-14, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
I've never gotten around to shortening the stainless steel support stays on my fenders, partly because the steel is so hard. I tried cutting them with wire snips, and it dented the tool. Anyone have any suggestions for simple way to shorten fender stays? A hacksaw would easily cut the stays, but would require that I remove the fenders from the bike first. I'm looking for the lazy man's option -- eg, a tool that would easily cut the stays and not cost a fortune.
I haven't tried cutting stainless stays, but I have to ask which wire snips you used. My Channel Lock™ wire cutters have never dented on anything I've used them on. On the other hand, the Harbor Freight cutters I bought can't cut anything but dandelions.
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Old 06-09-14, 04:15 PM
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I've Dremel'd mine in the past,but I've also seen a few bikes where the stays were artfully bent into curves which shortened them. Done right,it looks really nice.
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Old 06-09-14, 04:18 PM
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I'm planning to just bend the stays a bit to avoid all the tool buying - bending should take up the excess length and should need just a pliers.
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Old 06-09-14, 04:39 PM
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Small bolt cutters or heavy linesman pliers to cut.
Then file the beveled edge.

Last time I used a Dremel with a metal cut off wheel.
Fast, easy, smooth, done.
Gorilla glued the caps back on.
Done.
2-3mins.
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Old 06-10-14, 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I haven't tried cutting stainless stays, but I have to ask which wire snips you used. My Channel Lock™ wire cutters have never dented on anything I've used them on. On the other hand, the Harbor Freight cutters I bought can't cut anything but dandelions.
Tom... didn't you say in another post that you never regret buying tools? Revise that to say that you never regret buying good tools?
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Old 06-10-14, 12:33 AM
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4 inch cut off wheel...
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Old 06-10-14, 02:05 AM
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I am having a hard time picturing the issue at hand here. Photo?

- Andy
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Old 06-10-14, 06:32 AM
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I used the Dremel to shorten stays on one of the fenders, but it didn't cut as well as I expected. Perhaps I was using the wrong attachment. I'm thinking a bolt cutter would be the right tool for the job, and will probably break down and buy one.

Andy - I'll look for a photo on-line, but here is a better description. The fenders sold by Planet Bike, SKS, typically have adjustable stainless steel stays that run from eyelet at the dropouts to the fender edge. Because they are adjustable in length, they typically run longer than needed, extending an inch or so beyond the bracket where they attach to the fender. For most of the stays, trimming them is more of an aesthetic issue. However, the lower front stays cause a toe-strike issue if too long, so that is what I am most concerned about.
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Old 06-10-14, 07:21 AM
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Just bend them down a bit. Does the job.
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Old 06-10-14, 07:31 AM
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Dremel with a fiberglass reinforced cutoff disc:
https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-Cutoff-...=Dremel+cutoff

These will cut through hardened steel and those stainless stays are not hardened. Use eye protection.
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Old 06-10-14, 07:49 AM
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Originally Posted by HydroG33r
Tom... didn't you say in another post that you never regret buying tools? Revise that to say that you never regret buying good tools?
Goodness, yes. I haven't completely sworn off Harbor Freight, but close.

I recently bought Nashbar cable cutters for $15. So far, so good. If I regret it later, another lesson learned.
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Old 06-10-14, 09:18 AM
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Dremel with cut-off wheel. This is the same answer given for the question: "How do I cut/shorten my..." over and over again on this forum.

Rotary tool = standard equipment for any home shop for dozens of jobs...
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Old 06-10-14, 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by tarwheel
I used the Dremel to shorten stays on one of the fenders, but it didn't cut as well as I expected. Perhaps I was using the wrong attachment. I'm thinking a bolt cutter would be the right tool for the job, and will probably break down and buy one.

Andy - I'll look for a photo on-line, but here is a better description. The fenders sold by Planet Bike, SKS, typically have adjustable stainless steel stays that run from eyelet at the dropouts to the fender edge. Because they are adjustable in length, they typically run longer than needed, extending an inch or so beyond the bracket where they attach to the fender. For most of the stays, trimming them is more of an aesthetic issue. However, the lower front stays cause a toe-strike issue if too long, so that is what I am most concerned about.

The thing about the Dremel, is you have to let the tool do the work. It's super fast, just let it work its way through the metal without using much force. You will then usually have to file down the sharp ends, or just put a plastic cap on and be done.

I actually cut the black bracket things so the end cap comes off--and then I put it back on when I have the stays cut.
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