Rounded seatpost bolts

steveatbath

I’m in need of some help please... I have had trouble with my fizik seatpost since it first arrived, the mechanism is rubbish and keeps coming loose... so I bought a new zipp one. This mechanism seems much more basic but I can’t get the saddle off the old post as the Allen keys are rounded beyond use from having to tighten it up last time. What can I do?

Matthewfalle

just drill the heads off, it'll all separate out, remove the saddle then the bolts will undo really easily with a pair of pliers as there is no force on them.

#drill

steveatbath

So literally just put the drill bit in the rounded head?

Matthewfalle

you'll need a drill bit the same size as the external diameter of the bolt - the plan is to drill the head off leaving the shaft so the whole thing separates and slides down the shaft.

this guy is doing things on a bigger scale but you get the idea - nos 4 & 5 are what we are talkng about.

https://youtu.be/WDOWPekMX44

if it is as i think you are saying i would:

remove seat post

clamp seat in vice so bolt head is upwards

drill off bolt head leaving shaft

separate all

remove seat

remove bolt shafts

set fire to them

throw them in next doors garden

i hope we're both thinking along the same lines.

alternatively, a slighter larger allen key in there sometimes works or allen bit as you can tap it in then ratchet applies more torque.

lots of penetrating fluid on first to make life easier


#rounded bolts

Matthewfalle

depending on what the bolt set up is (my EC90 one has a bolt that is easy accesible with lots of the bolt head showing, the Cervelo one is recessed) you may also be able to get a grip on it with some of these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/00112-Metric-R ... B000YABVMC

People will also suggest an Easy Out but I've never seen one work.

#fiddlyfuddly

figbat

Depending on access you can sometimes hammer an oversized Torx bit into the hole. Or cut a slot with a Dremel and use a flathead screwdriver.

Matthewfalle

not sure he'll get enough leverage with a screwdriver but worth a bash.

#slotted

steveatbath

Nice one guys, thanks. I’ll let you know what works!

Matthewfalle

Pleasure dude - any problems, please shout any time.

Also have a squiz at the seat unit - sometimes you can see some of the mid shaft of the bolt between the top and bottom sections where they sandwich the seat rails (depends obviously of the bolts are either side of the seat rails and not down the middle - you made be able to slip a Dremel or hacksaw blade in and cut the bolts through the side that way.

Just remember to smash the old bolts with a hammer, set fire to them then throw them into next doors garden

#garden