Bike garage/light engineering firm near Oldham

[Ceri JC]

Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a bike garage/light engineering firm near Oldham (North Manchester) that can help me out with the following:

My front left fender securing bolt has seized in place and subsequently cheesed off when I tried turning it. It's the pan-headed bolt with the alun key hole in it. A spare is in the post, so I'm not worried about ruining the one in there. I've tried the usual: impact screwdriver, several coats of WD40 and 3 in 1, blowtorch on it (from the wheel side to avoid damage to the plastic fender), stud extractor, all to no avail. I'm going to continue coating it in wd40 and 3 in 1 and try taking the forks out, disconnecting the fender from the RHS fork and screw it out (with a normal drill bit) from the 'back' of the thread, but after that, I'm out of ideas, short of cutting the fender off and buying a new one (good excuse for a carbon one, eh?) ;)

I tried Highbarn, but they claimed not to be able to do this and were very vague about anywhere else that might be able to in the area. Alternately, if anyone can suggest any other DIY things I could try to loosen it, that'd be great.

It's not anything particularly urgent and in any event, I'm going to give it another go myself next weekend, so I can wait a couple of weeks if they are busy.

[Nobbylad]

Any use? http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18643/Drill-Bits/Specialist-Drill-Bits/Screw-Extractor-Set?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-SCREW%20REMOVER-_-18643

[yorkie_chris]

No. It'll break off.

Yup, drill through from back of it and retap if needs be. If it's the bolt I think you're talking about you can just replace it with a stainless nut and bolt if the threads get FUBAR'd. Bit fiddly but will hold it.

[Ceri JC]

If it's the bolt I think you're talking about you can just replace it with a stainless nut and bolt if the threads get FUBAR'd. Bit fiddly but will hold it.

Good idea, my bikes at home today, so I will check when I get in tonight, but I think you're right re: the bolt idea. As I say, I have a spare in the post, but if that's delayed/the thread is screwed (ho ho) I should be able to do this instead. Ta yorkie chris :)

Nobby: I'd tried those already, now I have a super smooth cone where I used to have a cheesed alun key hole.

[seedy100]

Sounds like a candidate for spark erosion.

Google it to find someone near you with portable kit.
No idea about the cost though.

[Biker_Billy]

If its the same bolt as mine - I had to drill the bolt out to get the front fender off, and re-tap the hole. Worked fine in the end, but was a bit of a hassle.

[yorkie_chris]

Sounds like a candidate for spark erosion.

Google it to find someone near you with portable kit.
No idea about the cost though.

Waste of time on a non-critical bolt. Expensive too.

[Nobbylad]

Nobby: I'd tried those already, now I have a super smooth cone where I used to have a cheesed alun key hole.

Try starting the hole off with a very small diameter metal bit i.e 2mm, then opening it up with something bigger until you can drill it out proper?

(Works on Yale locks :cool: )

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah drill it bang central then retap it.