Shimano HT2 crank bolts

chriskempton

I've just round out the allen key slot for about the 4th time on an HT2 LH crank pinch bolt, I try to tighten and loosen them very carefully, using a torque wrench with an allen key socket that's in A1 condition, and I brace the bit into the bolt to keep the interface as tight as possible...... but still it rounds out.

Anyone else have a similar problem? I tighten them to the recommended 15nM, but I'm thinking I should just do them less tight (by handheld allen key) in the future.

Your advice appreciated.......

maddog 2

15Nm should be nowhere near enough to round the bolt.

Either your torque wrench is out or your allen keys are shot/imperial or you are just very unlucky with a duff set of bolts.

ravey1981

I only ever use an allen key for tightening these bolts up...they really don't need to be very tight anyway...

John.T

The Shimano ones are poor. It is easy to twist the key off centre which tends to round them out. I have done one this way. Just try to get another bolt with a deeper head. They are a standard size.

chriskempton

Thanks for the replies, I'll get some non-Shimano bolts and use just an allen key in future.

mmacavity

http://www.kemfast.com/content/adhesive ... d-new.html

"EZ-Grip is also excellent to use as a preventative. Use a drop when inserting a new screw to help prevent slippage and damage to the fastener."

Wappygixer

Do you lighten them bit by bit from one bolt to the other?
I've found that fitting them and tightening in this way gives better results.This way if clamps evenly

chriskempton

Yes I do that.

Now, any ideas for removing a rounded out HT2 crank bolt?

Wappygixer

Stud extractors like these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dormer-M101-CSCT-Screw-Extractor-Set-A_W0QQitemZ300361732464QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item45eef45170

You can get cheaper but they will most likely break

keef66

Gently hammer in a slightly bigger allen key or possibly a Torx bit?

Failing that, stud extractor as suggested by Wappygixer. If you don't want to buy tools you may never use again, maybe your LBS would do it for a small consideration.