which tap wrench to rethread a set of handlebars?

[2clepto]

hi,

a bolt, the blighter, has fallen out of my handlebars whilst riding. the bars are cinelli and the stem is from a raliegh r1oo. it did take some force to get the bars on the stem. maybe i somehow wrecked the threads or maybe the stem is not right for the bars and over a week theyve wrecked the threads. i dont know.

anyway, ive been looking around for a tapping wrench, but know very little about the fine details of fettling, does anyone know if this tap wrench,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAP-WRENC...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f39208756

is appropriate for the job? if not id be most grateful if anyone could you point me in the right direction.

thanks. mark.

 

[AndyRM]

Personally, that would be a shop job for me if I wasn't sure on what to do. A handlebar failure could be very nasty if your repair goes wrong. Steels in Gosforth should be able to sort you out.

To throw in some irrational prejudice, I'd not trust anything purchased from Murderwell.

 

[Profpointy]

hi,

a bolt, the blighter, has fallen out of my handlebars whilst riding. the bars are cinelli and the stem is from a raliegh r1oo. it did take some force to get the bars on the stem. maybe i somehow wrecked the threads or maybe the stem is not right for the bars and over a week theyve wrecked the threads. i dont know.

anyway, ive been looking around for a tapping wrench, but know very little about the fine details of fettling, does anyone know if this tap wrench,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAP-WRENC...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3f39208756

is appropriate for the job? if not id be most grateful if anyone could you point me in the right direction.

thanks. mark.

whilst I'd usually strongly council against cheap tools, especially cutting tools - given you'll only be tapping threads into alloy, that'll probably be OK. And in particular, you're presumably trying to re-tap an existing thread which has got a bit munged. And even if they're crap, I guess the handle will be OK if you then get decent taps.

But all that said, if the thread is stripped, then you'd have to go a size bigger, in which case it needs drilling out to the CORRECT size for the next size up - and drilled straight at that, and you'll need a bolt the next size up too - which is perhaps a bit more involved, given the way you've asked the question, though not that difficult per se.

Another idea is to use a longer bolt going right through with a nut on the back - if this can be done somehow.
Or a new stem can't be that expensive can it?

And you have checked with just sticking another bolt in - ie has it just fallen out, but not stripped?

 

[Cow Pie]

If you have the original bolt or one of the others from the stem then measure the diameter across the threads (not the head). This will give you your 'M' size for the size of tap required. The measurement is in millimetres.
Bit more difficult to judge is the other figure that follows the size of tap. This is the pitch of the cutting threads. There are numerous sizes and they need to match or you will cut a different thread into your stem and the bolt won't fit correctly and will probably strip the threads when refitted.
The sizes shown on your ebay link are common sizes so tend to be ok for 90% of jobs. If unsure then take it to your LBS and get them to measure the pitch of your thread using a thread file or pitch tool.
Hope it helps you make a decision

 

[2clepto]

thanks guys.

as soon as id posted i went back to the bike and instantly just thought get a new stem. i just cant understand why it would have threaded. although it feels through use because maybe the bars are too big for the stem?

it does sound like a tricky job. ill fone the gosforth lbs much appreciate the heads up on that one cheers.

i like the longer bolt idea too. where would i source one from for an old raliegh? the lbs or off an old raliegh?

you'll have to explain the "murderwell" joke/jibe? it flew past me lol.

 

[subaqua]

thanks guys.

as soon as id posted i went back to the bike and instantly just thought get a new stem. i just cant understand why it would have threaded. although it feels through use because maybe the bars are too big for the stem?

it does sound like a tricky job. ill fone the gosforth lbs much appreciate the heads up on that one cheers.

i like the longer bolt idea too. where would i source one from for an old raliegh? the lbs or off an old raliegh?

you'll have to explain the "murderwell" joke/jibe? it flew past me lol.

what motherwell is Jokingly known as elsewhere in the north. possiblty a football thing dunno

 

[2clepto]

whats peoples opinions on this tap set?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-Pc-MET...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item58b4f691c9

also, sorry for my ignorance, but if i got a tap set like this where/how would i located the new threaded insert and correctly threaded bolt?

or is it simply a measurement process as cow pat (lol) suggests above?

 

[AndyRM]

thanks guys.

as soon as id posted i went back to the bike and instantly just thought get a new stem. i just cant understand why it would have threaded. although it feels through use because maybe the bars are too big for the stem?

it does sound like a tricky job. ill fone the gosforth lbs much appreciate the heads up on that one cheers.

i like the longer bolt idea too. where would i source one from for an old raliegh? the lbs or off an old raliegh?

you'll have to explain the "murderwell" joke/jibe? it flew past me lol.

Perhaps post some pics of your woes and we might be able to help out more accurately?

Start Cycle, Cycle Logical and Recyk'y'Bike would also be able to help you out I reckon.

As for Murderwell, it's a football based slur. I'd apologise, but as a Kilmarnoack fan I can never forgive them for stealing my favourite player (Pat Nevin) on the day I got his name on my new stripes.

 

[Peteaud]

whats peoples opinions on this tap set?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-Pc-MET...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item58b4f691c9

also, sorry for my ignorance, but if i got a tap set like this where/how would i located the new threaded insert and correctly threaded bolt?

or is it simply a measurement process as cow pat (lol) suggests above?

Utter sh1te.

Mostly made of very soft cheese and will cause more damage than trying to repair.

If you have to tap things, get a decent wrench and go to an engineers merchant and buy the correct tap (and drill if required).

 

[2clepto]

Utter sh1te.

Mostly made of very soft cheese and will cause more damage than trying to repair.

If you have to tap things, get a decent wrench and go to an engineers merchant and buy the correct tap (and drill if required).

thanks pete. i needed that booted into me ))

i just cant afford that quality at the moment so im probs just going to source a new raliegh stem or a bolt whichever i hook up with first.

 

[2clepto]

Perhaps post some pics of your woes and we might be able to help out more accurately?

Start Cycle, Cycle Logical and Recyk'y'Bike would also be able to help you out I reckon.

As for Murderwell, it's a football based slur. I'd apologise, but as a Kilmarnoack fan I can never forgive them for stealing my favourite player (Pat Nevin) on the day I got his name on my new stripes.

yup im off to recyke y byke 2mrw.

i popped into start cycles this afternnon and asked the mechanic but he was real busy and he looked like i was from another dimension asking for an old raliegh part )

thanks for all the advice. its really impressive how much time you can save on cyclechat. much appreciate as always. i hope everyone is having a lovely evening.

 

[2clepto]

another inspection reveals the stem is not large enough to clasp shut on the cinelli bars, whereas the other four ralieghs i have do clasp shut, which is a pity because i liked the shorter reach stem. cheers mark.

 

[Profpointy]

another inspection reveals the stem is not large enough to clasp shut on the cinelli bars, whereas the other four ralieghs i have do clasp shut, which is a pity because i liked the shorter reach stem. cheers mark.

If it's just a bit too big, then shim it out to fit. Aluminium drinks cans are conveniently made of ideal shim material. This is only really for modest gaps - not for 1/4" gap

 

[2clepto]

If it's just a bit too big, then shim it out to fit. Aluminium drinks cans are conveniently made of ideal shim material. This is only really for modest gaps - not for 1/4" gap

thanks, sadly the gap is 1/4" or there abouts.

 

[Profpointy]

thanks, sadly the gap is 1/4" or there abouts.

Whilst it might work, you'd end up in a right state emptying the necessary Guiness cans