Snapped bolt head

pesky_jones

Was just tinkering with the bike and tightening some bolts etc ready for tomorrow, and managed to snap the head off a bolt.

I can't even work out what the bolt really does to be honest. I should imagine I need to replace it at some point as muck will build up but for now is it rideable? The pedals not going fly off or anything is it?




Here's one with the snapped bolt head resting on the pedal

njee20

Was just tinkering with the bike and tightening some bolts etc ready for tomorrow, and managed to snap the head off a bolt.

I can't even work out what the bolt really does to be honest

Put down the allen keys and step away from the bike...

It's the end cap for the pedal, gives you access to the bearings if you undo that nut. It's not an immediate problem, but it does mean your pedals will fill with censored and wear out quickly as there's now nothing protecting the bearings.

May I recommend in future not randomly over tightening things, particularly when you don't know what they actually do?

pesky_jones

njee20 wrote:

Was just tinkering with the bike and tightening some bolts etc ready for tomorrow, and managed to snap the head off a bolt.

I can't even work out what the bolt really does to be honest

Put down the allen keys and step away from the bike...

It's the end cap for the pedal, gives you access to the bearings if you undo that nut. It's not an immediate problem, but it does mean your pedals will fill with censored and wear out quickly as there's now nothing protecting the bearings.

May I recommend in future not randomly over tightening things, particularly when you don't know what they actually do?

By tightening, I meant checking not loose. I hardly turned the Allen key. I wasn't over tightening anything.

Thanks though, I assumed it was the cap but couldn't work out why it had to be a rather large bolt for a simple job

pesky_jones

Could even be plastic and do that job

16mm

I'd superglue it back in place.

nicklouse

they are known to break. and it is a pain to get the remains out.

not much you can do other than carefully cut the remains out. but then you can not get spares.

top tip when checking things undo is the safest direction.

*AJ*

Try and find a plastic grommit to fit the hole!

That'll do for now, until you get round to buying some new ones! Lol

stubs

A smear of silicone shower sealant will plug the hole till you can get the remains of the cap out. Just dont fill the pedal with silicone and you will be able to pick it out later.