Anyone upgraded the Brompton unfolding clamp nuts?
 

I'm talking about the things that hold the frame together when unfolded. It's like a piece of channel iron over a stud, with a washer, then a knob/nut that you tighten/loosen.

I think some people replace the studs with longer ones so they don't accidentally unscrew the knob all the way?

First off I'd like to know what size the stud is (metric/inch, length, thread, etc).

Second, I'm wondering if anyone's replaced the knob with a quick-release mechanism? I think a cam action quick release lever (like for wheels or seat posts) would be great, but I'm not sure how much TRAVEL the quick release gives you... I.E. would it be enough to loosen the channel iron enough to fold the bike.

The other thing I found were quick release nuts, the only problem there is once they're released they come off. Something that released but stayed put would be slightly more convenient ;).

Hello Eggplant Jeff!

Have you been on the Yahoo BromptonTalk?
I've just recently joined and I saw a PDF that has to do with the modifications you are thinking about. I am not sure how this works, but try this link:
groups.yahoo.com/group/BromptonTalk/files/
If you have sign up for it, then once you are in BromptonTalk, on you left, below Home, Messages, Post, Chat, there is Files. Click on Files and scroll down to Hinge Bolt Modification PDF. I have not read it in detail, but maybe you can find your answer in it.
As for Quick Release Lever, I am not sure if it will works on the Brompton, but I think it might stick out too much on a Brompton. Prior to my recent upgrade to Brompton, I have been riding a Breezer i3, the "Wanna be Brompton" and it's got Quick Release Lever, but the direction of the lever when bike folded isn't always the direction you wanted to be because it is either stick up or out. I was reminded of this again when I was cleaning both the Breezer i3 and Brompton after riding in the rain with my wife today in NYC. I hope this helps!

Steven

By the way, I got my Breezer i3 from Philly off craigslist last year. I took the NY-Philly Chinatown bus and ended up being cheaper my local bike shop. I was lucky!

Here is my reason for leaving the clamps alone:

Brompton used to ship the bike with both of the clamps on the bike. However most of the time the clamp gets damaged during shipping so, I and probably other dealers recommend them remove the clamps and after about a year they now ship the Brompton without the clamp install.

So, the solution from yahoo Brompton talk of using a longer bolt & having a locking nut inside to prevent loosing the clamp is good but it also mean when you want it off will require more work.

The only time I heard of people loosing the clamp is under the bus or in the trunk of a car.

However this can be easily avoided by taking the clamps off or tighten it.

www.bfold.com

OK see I was thinking more along the lines of making it so instead of spinning the handle several full rotations to release it, making it a single-motion release.

I loosen the wingnut only as much as I need to easilly slip the clamps off the frame. Then I leave it all alone. If needed, when I bag it, I retighten the wingnuts back into the frame to lessen the chance of them comming off and having to chase after the wingnuts tumbling around the inside of the bag.