Washers under bottle cage allen bolts?

[e-rider]

I've recently started using stainless A4 M5 dome-head allen bolts after realising that normal bolts actually rub on the bottle. I know it's a good idea to always use a washer under the bolt head, but is this really necessary? It is about spreading the load or avoiding a twisting motion impact onto the cage?

 

[ianrauk]

I've never used washers.

 

[FreeFlow Bikes]

I don't use washer either.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Never seen them on bottlecage bolts.

 

[MrJamie]

The rivet thingys that you screw the bolts into on my bike make it look a bit like it's got washers under the bolts, but it's not

 

[Drago]

It's good practice, but in our case its fine without them.

 

[Davidc]

I've never used them either, and never a problem.

 

[mcshroom]

Wot! that would be like an extra 2 grammes!

 

[gbb]

The one unfortunate thing with dome headed (or button headed) screws is that you use an even smaller allen key to tighten them. Same torque required..through a smaller allen key equals more chance of damaging the hexagon. I hate dome headed bolts..we're required to use them a lot at work and they are twice as likely to get damaged. Make sure your allen key tip is in good condition.

 

[02GF74]

Wot! that would be like an extra 2 grammes!

you can buy aluminium alloy washers - i made my own carboin fibre washers from CF sheet.

 

[e-rider]

The one unfortunate thing with dome headed (or button headed) screws is that you use an even smaller allen key to tighten them. Same torque required..through a smaller allen key equals more chance of damaging the hexagon. I hate dome headed bolts..we're required to use them a lot at work and they are twice as likely to get damaged. Make sure your allen key tip is in good condition.

but with bottle cage bolts, a smaller allen key means less likely to damage the boss - I've never damaged one myself but have a few mates that have and now they just spin in the frame!

 

[e-rider]

I managed to get some fairly thin stainless washers and have fitted these - the thought of a bolt without a washer was keeping me awake at night!

 

[smokeysmoo]

A few mates have and now they just spin in the frame!

THIS or THIS may help

 

[gbb]

but with bottle cage bolts, a smaller allen key means less likely to damage the boss - I've never damaged one myself but have a few mates that have and now they just spin in the frame!

TBF, that is one advantage.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I have been quite alarmed to read here about peoples cavalier attitude towards not fitting washers on bottle cage bolts. To all those of you who say that it has not presented a problem I would like to point out that although this may be true it requires an amendment to the effect that it (the not fitting of washers) has not presented a problem YET
I can think of only several places on ones bicycle where the fitting of washers is of more, the same or only slightly less importance than on the bottle cage and to neglect to fit them (washers) on ones bottle cage is only possibly storing up trouble or inconvenience (or possibly neither but why take the chance) for a later date. Washers serve a myriad of functions and nowhere more so than here. Above a lot of things they are instrumental in helping prevent the bolt working loose from vibration. I could go on but I have to go now. Needless to say I am alarmed.