Where to buy chrome steel nuts & bolts?

[David G.]

Following up on this topic https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/bqrr/nuts/bqrr/jxPLoz-grlc/SdW57Cebo3MJ and Jan's post about Putting Our Lives on the Line (https://janheine.wordpress.com/2014/08/23/putting-our-lives-on-the-line/), I wanted to know where I could buy 5mm and 6mm hardware.

As shown in this image, http://media.virbcdn.com/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/0d/ContentImage-5702-171167-IMG_1006.JPG, the 4 joints connecting the top of the rack to the legs were loose after a couple hundred miles.  The hardware that came w/the Pass and Stow rack is stainless 5mm socket head screw, flat washer, [leg, rack top], split lock washer, and nylock nut.  I replaced the locker washer w/a flat washer and tightened to 12Nm which I think is close to the limit of the hex head.  My rack is black, made from CroMo steel tubing.

Jan's comment about not having to tighten bolts for thousands of miles caught my attention.   What fasteners would others use to achieve longer intervals between tightening?

[Jan Heine]

At 8:04 AM -0700 9/11/14, David G. wrote:

>Jan's comment about not having to tighten bolts
>for thousands of miles caught my attention.
>What fasteners would others use to achieve
>longer intervals between tightening?

It's not the fasteners, but the design of the
connection. Poor-quality fasteners will break. If
they come loose, then the part they are holding
is not designed well.

On my René Herse, I don't think I have tightened
any bolts in 3 years and about 12,000 miles of
riding, with the exception of the bolts that hold
the decaleur to the (flexible) leather of the
handlebar bag. I am working on a way to improve
that connection, so I don't have to worry about
my bag coming loose every year or two.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.bikequarterly.com

Follow our blog at http://janheine.wordpress.com/
--

[Badger J Dohnell]

I have a conflict of interest here because I used to sell stainless steel metric fasteners but every time I have used a 5mm or 6mm Allen head bolt with flat washers where needed, backed up with a nylock nut, whether on motorcycle or bicycle, I have NEVER had to re-tighten the bolt.

What I will do if I can on threaded rack mounts is to thread the bolt in from the INSIDE of the frame, through the rack strut hole, and use a nyloc nut and a washer on the OUTSIDE. I have been known to trim the bolt head so it clears the small cog if necessary.

The only time I've had a bolt-loosening problem was with SPD cleats on shoes, sometimes caused by poorly cut female threads in the shoe plates. Fixed by re-tapping the threads & using red Loctite.

On 11 September 2014 11:29, Jan Heine <hei...@earthlink.net> wrote:

At 8:04 AM -0700 9/11/14, David G. wrote:

Jan's comment about not having to tighten bolts for thousands of miles caught my attention. What fasteners would others use to achieve longer intervals between tightening?

It's not the fasteners, but the design of the connection. Poor-quality fasteners will break. If they come loose, then the part they are holding is not designed well.

On my René Herse, I don't think I have tightened any bolts in 3 years and about 12,000 miles of riding, with the exception of the bolts that hold the decaleur to the (flexible) leather of the handlebar bag. I am working on a way to improve that connection, so I don't have to worry about my bag coming loose every year or two.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.bikequarterly.com

Follow our blog at http://janheine.wordpress.com/
--

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John & Janet Alldredge

[WMdeR]

>I don't think I have tightened 
>any bolts in 3 years and about 12,000 miles of 
>riding, with the exception of the bolts that hold 
>the decaleur to the (flexible) leather of the 
>handlebar bag. 

Dear Jan,

A steel pop-rivet backed with appropriate stainless fender washers on the inside (leather/fabric side) of the handlebar bag won't work loose and will hold securely. I had one (aluminum) pop-rivet fail after ten years, and it was improperly set.

I usually have to tighten my rear fender stay bridge bolts once, after all the fender washers etc bed in. Otherwise, stuff just doesn't rattle loose on well-designed integrated bikes.

Best Regards,

Will

William M. deRosset

Fort Collins, CO