Thru Axle woes

[PaulBN]

I have a Planet X Hurricane as my winter bike.
It has SRAM Force 22 disc brakes.
I accidently stripped the 6mm allen key hole in the rear thru axle.
Its always been a bit difficult to get the allen key in so I think I must have worn it over time.
I managed to remove the thru axle with a bolt extractor so completed its destruction.

I then set about getting a replacement. Thru axles normally have their spec engraved or printed on them - mine didn't.
Planet X weren't a lot of use.

Anyway I ordered one 173mm long for a 142x12 axle with 1.5mm thread pitch.
I got the pitch wrong - it should have been 1.75mm.
So I ordered a new knurled nut with 1.5mm pitch.
Unfortunately that had the wrong external profile to fit the clamp that holds it to the frame.

I'm now awaiting a new thru axle from eBay - standards eh!!!!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I feel your pain. You are not alone.

 

[si_c]

Yeah, it was a concern for me before I bought my first thru-axle bike - experience has subsequently told me they are made of cheese and prone to rounding. Getting a decent set of hex-wrenches has eliminated any further damage (I use Wera Hex Plus) and I also bought a replacement pair (holy crap they are expensive compared to QRs) and I now have a second bike which has the same thru-axles which will help longer term.

 

[PaulBN]

If the replacement from Ebay is correct I'll get another one.

Are the Wera Hex Plus that good?

 

[Windle]

I have a Planet X Hurricane as my winter bike.
It has SRAM Force 22 disc brakes.
I accidently stripped the 6mm allen key hole in the rear thru axle.
Its always been a bit difficult to get the allen key in so I think I must have worn it over time.
I managed to remove the thru axle with a bolt extractor so completed its destruction.

I then set about getting a replacement. Thru axles normally have their spec engraved or printed on them - mine didn't.
Planet X weren't a lot of use.

Anyway I ordered one 173mm long for a 142x12 axle with 1.5mm thread pitch.
I got the pitch wrong - it should have been 1.75mm.
So I ordered a new knurled nut with 1.5mm pitch.
Unfortunately that had the wrong external profile to fit the clamp that holds it to the frame.

I'm now awaiting a new thru axle from eBay - standards eh!!!!

I don't know if yours is the same but my thru-axles (Trek Checkpoint) have hex stud holes at either end ~ the front nearside one on mine is starting to round out but since discovering that the other side has the same socket I just use that side instead, you've just got to remember to turn the hex key the opposite way of course.

 

[fossyant]

It's a new 'standard' every week ! Progress they call it !

 

[si_c]

Are the Wera Hex Plus that good?

Yes. Worth the £40 or so for them, especially if you do a lot of your own maintenance - better than the park tool ones I'd used previously and they are all colour coded so I know the red one is for my thru axles, orange for derailleur bolts and yellow for stem bolts for example.

 

[Gillstay]

Yes. Worth the £40 or so for them, especially if you do a lot of your own maintenance - better than the park tool ones I'd used previously and they are all colour coded so I know the red one is for my thru axles, orange for derailleur bolts and yellow for stem bolts for example.

Ow much for allen keys...Blimey.

 

[si_c]

Ow much for allen keys...Blimey.

Definitely worth it though, they engage and fit much better than others I've used. I've started getting other tools they make and they're just as good.

 

[newts]

Ow much for allen keys...Blimey.

I've had a set of Wera hexplus in daily use since c2012, they are very good.

Can you get a qr thru axle in the correct size, toolless removal is much better.