Stripped the thread on Shimano R9170 lever bleed port

[Marchaugh]

I can't believe how you can cock something up like that and then even consider trying a warranty claim - it is no wonder manufacturers kick back when they have to deal with things like that. Just accept you were a bit ham-fisted and take the hit. You won't do it again! I wouldn't trust my well-being to the 'temporary fix' either...

Have you ever tried bleeding Shimano Dura ace levers? It's a crap design full stop and Shimano obviously admit it as they replaced my lever with no quibbles. I mean who thought it would be a good idea to make an crucial maintenance port thread out of a soft plastic?!
The reason mine stripped so easily was because I was threading into a plastic port with a hefty metal bleed adapter from epic bleed solutions. I have since brought a plastic adapter from Shimano.

The 'tempoary' fix actually worked very well and I showed it to the mechanic at my LBS who thought it was a good idea to just get it working quickly again short term. I mean what's the worst that's going to happen? You could lose one brake?

 

[iluvmybike]

Have you ever tried bleeding Shimano Dura ace levers?

Yes, certainly have on many occasions (as well as plenty of others) but have always used the Shimano kit

 

[Marchaugh]

Yes, certainly have on many occasions (as well as plenty of others) but have always used the Shimano kit

Yes ok well lesson learnt the hard way

 

[SheilaH]

Even the bleed port bolt is made of cheese and easy to strip the hex hole. Really odd. It's like those shoot pad retaining bolts on some of their calipers. So much of what they do is brilliant engineering, high quality manufacture, and then they go and do something shoot like having an easy to strip thread on a £200 lever.

 

[Jaker07]

I had the same problem with R8050 (Di2 ultegra) - root cause was I hit the deck about six months ago and tore my left hood. I should have replaced it but I didn't. Sweat and water pooled around the bleed screw and by the time I tried to remove it, it was shot. My LBS suggested replacing the entire lever (and it would take three months to get one). I used a rotary tool to score the top of the screw which created a notch for a screwdriver. It opened easily with a screwdriver. Agree poor design overall, but seems ridiculous to replace the entire lever. Btw, lesson learned on the ripped hood - replaced that too.

 

[Jaker07]

I had the same problem with R8050 (Di2 ultegra) - root cause was I hit the deck about six months ago and tore my left hood. I should have replaced it but I didn't. Sweat and water pooled around the bleed screw and by the time I tried to remove it, it was shot. My LBS suggested replacing the entire lever (and it would take three months to get one). I used a rotary tool to score the top of the screw which created a notch for a screwdriver. It opened easily with a screwdriver. Agree poor design overall, but seems ridiculous to replace the entire lever. Btw, lesson learned on the ripped hood - replaced that too.

Re-reading the original post, realise that the problem was stripping the thread that the blead screw screws into; not the stripping the hex notch of the bleed screw. In any case, somewhat related and hope my experience helps.

 

[sydneytcr]

Have you ever tried bleeding Shimano Dura ace levers? It's a crap design full stop and Shimano obviously admit it as they replaced my lever with no quibbles. I mean who thought it would be a good idea to make an crucial maintenance port thread out of a soft plastic?!
The reason mine stripped so easily was because I was threading into a plastic port with a hefty metal bleed adapter from epic bleed solutions. I have since brought a plastic adapter from Shimano.

The 'tempoary' fix actually worked very well and I showed it to the mechanic at my LBS who thought it was a good idea to just get it working quickly again short term. I mean what's the worst that's going to happen? You could lose one brake?

Did the hot glue gun fix work long term to seal the brake fluid port? I had the same issue happen where there is no thread inside for the screw to catch onto.

 

[Marchaugh]

It worked for as long as I let it. I only used it like that few a few rides b4 swapping it out. Should be fine as long as you get rid of all oil and grease from the gluing area.

 

[JhnBssll]

The hot glue fix looks like a decent temporary measure. It's on the low pressure side of the piston so isn't going to cause any issues other than making maintenance more of a faff. Glad they replaced the lever for you 👍

 

[marzjennings]

Interesting this old post popped up again, the same thing happened to my Shimano GRX 810's last month. I couldn't be bothered to get them replaced (only 6 months old) and to be honest never impressed with them from day one, so I trashed 'em and replaced them with some very nice TRP's.

 

[nelson1j]

I contacted the Specialized concept store where I got my venge from who sent the lever off to Shimano who said they would replace it FOC, and after about a 3 month wait (because of covid and stuff) it has arrived!

Hi I have had the same issue as you, lever thread stripped, annoying as I was only unscrewing it, I think it was assembled and overtorqued. Can I check which store Madison replaced it through, was it the Specialised store in Chester (if it is would be useful), as this is the store which cannot get Madison to replace the lever through....

 

[Marchaugh]

No, it was the Birmingham concept store.
I'm pretty sure it was less than a year after I got the bike from them.