Economical Track Nut Source
 

I want to switch over a few bikes to "Track Nuts" type fasteners. I'd never heard of them before a few days ago. I was quoted $5/pr at the local bike shop. If you do several bikes that adds up. Anyone have a good cheap source of these in steel?

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/AiMAA...Zg/s-l1600.jpg

Switch over from what? If your wheels don't already have nutted axles, it's not going to be a simple process.

Hi, sure it'll be simple. They're a nutted axle at the moment and the track nuts thread right on.

What exactly is the issue with the current nuts on the axles right now? What are the track nuts going to do that the current ones aren't doing?

If absolutely needed it sounds like you found a perfect source at your local shop but you want to make sure they are all of the correct thread pitch. I bet if you are nice and are regularly giving business to your local shop you might could get a small bulk discount. However again why replace something unless it is not working at all which doesn't sound like the case?

Prices vary on Amazon but theres always someone selling them at a sensible price. Note that the internal diameter of the nut (the diameter of the axle, the diameter of the thread) is different front and rear, even if the external size (size of spanner you need) is the same.

What do you currently have? Road nuts? I'm only familiar with nuts, quick release skewers, and thru-axles.

Also be aware that the thread spec might be different. Most rear track hubs will be 10mm x 1mm thread, but Campagnolo, Gipiemme, Miche, and perhaps others use 10mm x 26tpi thread. Similarly, while most front track hubs will be 9mm x 1mm thread, but Campagnolo, Gipiemme, Miche, and perhaps others use 9mm x 26tpi thread.

I suspect that the OP is referring to nuts with captive washers, as opposed to nuts and separate washers.

Ah, that makes sense.

A nut with captive washers - you are correct Sir and thank you for clarifying that for this thread. These things exist for a reason. I mean, someone manufactured them because there was a demand/need, like mine now. I'm always looking out for cross purposes fasteners and fixtures that were used in applications outside the bicycle realm that could be used in the bicycle realm. Paying $5/pr for two stinking steel nuts is, well, nuts to me. These are used someplace outside the high markup bike industry for sure.

The kind of response I was aiming for in the thread was something along the lines of "Yeah, I noticed Jimmy's Bikeshop and Donut Emporium has these for 0.40c a piece. They're in Oakview..." etc.

Doesn't anyone else use these on their bikes (as shown in the picture link)?

Last time I needed a few of them, I got them at Retrogression for $5 a pair, NBD. Misc Wheel Parts

If you have a half dozen bikes and want four nuts for each, I agree it would be spendy.

Sorry, but I'm not aware of any non-bike or otherwise low priced sources.

I use them. I've bought several pairs, and for better or worse, I've generally just found them on Amazon or eBay for whatever looks affordable. I've also had to search for solid threaded axles, and have found that a complete axle set with cones can be cheaper than an axle by itself. So I've bought the axle sets just for the axles.

My use is converting bikes that have quick release but no secondary retention such as lawyer lips. I know there are lots of arguments pro and con, but we all have our own comfort zone.

As others have mentioned, don't forget to match the threads, and beware of 26 tpi versus 1mm thread standards and other abominations. If you get the wrong one, at least you'll get it threaded on most of the way before it seizes up. ;)

It's not just the industry. Cycling has become, in part, a leisure activity for aspirational people with money to burn, and some of them are ripe for the plucking.

I was looking for dust caps for square taper cranks the other day. Online, I found them at 50p/66 cents each (for one tiny piece of plastic smaller than the lid of a disposable mustard jar) and as much as £30/ $39.46 each. The expensive ones were described as "classic". Someone is paying those higher prices.

Not that I can think of. It's a pretty specialized use -- tightening an axle that goes into a slot. And the threads are oddball. Note that I'm not defending the price.

McMaster-Carr has general purpose captive washer nuts, but nothing in M9x1 or M10x1.

I think I just found my new signature!

Ok, thanks for that. I'll try one of the local Coops and see if they have a spare next time slumming. I'll take that sample into a local specialty place and if there is some fastener cross-pollinization going on with another industry I'll be glad to report back here with findings.

Excellent idea. A better idea is what is already happening: buy things that cost £5 for a big bag full, and sell them in ones and twos for £5 — £30 a time to people who only need one or two at that particular moment and are too lazy to search. Works for nuts, bolts, washers, bungs, caps, catches, and all manner of tiny things. Also works with tea and coffee, for slightly different reasons.

Probably have to by a 1000 at a time to get a better price than what the LBS is buying them wholesale for.

For those that think I'm cheaping out, not exactly. If the Rockefeller crowd deems $5/pr for a set o' nuts isn't too much then I'll take 5 pr. Buy them and send them my way. Postal address can be provided.

But the objective is only to get them cheaper than the LBS is retailing them for (and, secondly, perhaps, sell them on Amazon for several times as much to the gullible).

A brief search indicates that Fastenal refers to them as free spinning washer nuts. 50c a piece? - sold! Perhaps these nuts are not offered by them at the size and thread pitch necessary but they must exist via another outlet, someplace.

It's comforting to see that people are just as ****ing weird as the last time I was here.

Is this dude really sniveling about the cost of axle nuts?

Maybe a place like your local shop! "I am not cheap, I am super cheap but also willing to spend extra money on something unneeded."