Ask the experts

[SchralphMacchio]

Clutch, what clutch? I'll just be gentle with the trigger and shouldn't have a problem....right?

Helicoil kits are way cheaper than I realized and I guess I can't fuck this up any worse than it already is. I'll give that a try. Thanks.

[emoji1787]

I hate to kick a man when he’s down but I’m just thinking of all the time you just added, once you are done with the helicoil business, to mounting rotor and aligning calipers by using a drill (please tell me you were kidding about the lack of clutch?) vs a ratcheting torque wrench and a T25 socket ... or just a straight T25 hand driver and a decent hand tighten ... or just the T25 end of your bike multi tool ...

I’m sorry, I know it’s a crappy situation. This just cracks me up. I don’t think I’ve used a power driver ever on my bikes, except the time I drilled out my seatpost clamp hole to get the angle I wanted ... [emoji13]

[EWG]

[emoji1787]

I hate to kick a man when he’s down but I’m just thinking of all the time you just added, once you are done with the helicoil business, to mounting rotor and aligning calipers by using a drill (please tell me you were kidding about the lack of clutch?) vs a ratcheting torque wrench and a T25 socket ... or just a straight T25 hand driver and a decent hand tighten ... or just the T25 end of your bike multi tool ...

I’m sorry, I know it’s a crappy situation. This just cracks me up. I don’t think I’ve used a power driver ever on my bikes, except the time I drilled out my seatpost clamp hole to get the angle I wanted ... [emoji13]

I you find yourself about to use a drill on a bike, stop. Then don’t use it. If you can’t find another way to do what you are doing without a drill, ask yourself if you are an expert in what you are doing. If yes, then go ahead, carefully. If no, then bring the bike to a shop.

Hammers, on the other hand, are fine. As my son always said when I was teaching him to wrench growing up, any day you get to use a hammer on a bike is a fun day.

[toast2266]

I you find yourself about to use a drill on a bike, stop. Then don’t use it. If you can’t find another way to do what you are doing without a drill, ask yourself if you are an expert in what you are doing. If yes, then go ahead, carefully. If no, then bring the bike to a shop.

Hammers, on the other hand, are fine. As my son always said when I was teaching him to wrench growing up, any day you get to use a hammer on a bike is a fun day.

I use a drill every time for rotor bolts.

Start threading by hand. Set the clutch low. Final torque by hand. Way faster.

[smmokan]

I use a drill every time for rotor bolts.

Start threading by hand. Set the clutch low. Final torque by hand. Way faster.

Ha, I was going to say the same thing. Low torque setting, never had a problem. Just don't try to unthread the bolts with a drill (without loosening first by hand), that's where you can run into problems. Ask me how I know.

[scrublover]

I use a drill every time for rotor bolts.

Start threading by hand. Set the clutch low. Final torque by hand. Way faster.

Yep, do it all the time. The times I've caused a problem were all when not paying attention with a regular torx wrench.

[ticketchecker]

I use a drill every time for rotor bolts.

Start threading by hand. Set the clutch low. Final torque by hand. Way faster.

I've watched the Industry Nine guys at Nemba Fest swapping rotors like ninjas using the drill method so people can demo wheels

[simple]

I swear Toast and I are twins sometimes

[forty]

fyi weight weenies have been running 3 rotor bolts for weight savings for years, dh/enduro/xc whatever, it works fine and ive never heard anyone have any issues with it
i would tell her its for weight savings and actually an upgrade, fuck helicoiling, just start saving for a new wheelset build in a yr or two

[John_B]

[emoji1787]

I hate to kick a man when he’s down but I’m just thinking of all the time you just added, once you are done with the helicoil business, to mounting rotor and aligning calipers by using a drill (please tell me you were kidding about the lack of clutch?) vs a ratcheting torque wrench and a T25 socket ... or just a straight T25 hand driver and a decent hand tighten ... or just the T25 end of your bike multi tool ...

I’m sorry, I know it’s a crappy situation. This just cracks me up. I don’t think I’ve used a power driver ever on my bikes, except the time I drilled out my seatpost clamp hole to get the angle I wanted ... [emoji13]

Oh it's not lost on me. Drill has a clutch I just didn't back it down. I'd just leave them out but the stripped bolts are all next to each other. I'm usually super ocd about always using the torque wrench but I guess I just had an off evening.

[toast2266]

fyi weight weenies have been running 3 rotor bolts for weight savings for years, dh/enduro/xc whatever, it works fine and ive never heard anyone have any issues with it
i would tell her its for weight savings and actually an upgrade, fuck helicoiling, just start saving for a new wheelset build in a yr or two

The old Amp Research rotors only had 3 bolts in stock form. Of course, those rotors had a whole lot more material in them than most of the modern rotors.

[climberevan]

I use a drill every time for rotor bolts.

Start threading by hand. Set the clutch low. Final torque by hand. Way faster.

This. I actually use and impact driver, but it's like an extension of my hand after so many years of carpentry. Non-tool fluent primates should prob stick with hand tools on bicycles. I also use the same driver to mount skis. It's way easier to get the screws started square than with a screwdriver.

Helicoil will prob work just fine. Those hubs have plenty of extra material. Or, as said, use it as an excuse to get some badass Chinese wheels with DT240s. My Ripley lost 3# when I did that.

[mall walker]

fyi weight weenies have been running 3 rotor bolts for weight savings for years, dh/enduro/xc whatever, it works fine and ive never heard anyone have any issues with it
i would tell her its for weight savings and actually an upgrade, fuck helicoiling, just start saving for a new wheelset build in a yr or two

not sure if serious...

[Dee Hubbs]

not sure if serious...

100% serious. Its very common practice for amateur weight weenies to run only 3 steel bolts. This set up is lighter and more reliable (and cheaper) than 6 Titanium rotor bolts.

[HAB]

not sure if serious...

He's serious, but hardcore weight weenies do a lot of stupid shit to save 4g.

[EWG]

He's serious, but hardcore weight weenies do a lot of stupid shit to save 4g.

This is very true.

Also, I'm still out on the drills. I can take the extra seconds to screw the rotor bolts by hand. Plus, getting the bit out, setting the clutch, etc - I don't think I'd save much time.

Also, I might be a luddite. I rarely use a torque wrench and just feel like I can tell how the bike is going together when the tool is in my hand turning it.

Certainly prescrewing bolts is fine, then finishing by hand. I wasn't getting at that kind of drill use. I just see so many people trying to screw in things like stem allen bolts with a drill. It's amazing.

[toast2266]

I would never use only 3 bolts on rotors.

It's way lighter to use 6 bolts but drill out the center of the bolt.

[bagtagley]

Another drill user. Hand start and you’re all good.

[EWG]

I would never use only 3 bolts on rotors.

It's way lighter to use 6 bolts but drill out the center of the bolt.

This is likely to be my favorite thing I read today. 10/10

[RootSkier]

It's way lighter to use 6 bolts but drill out the center of the bolt.

Haha, awesome.

If it's good enough for ice screws it's good enough for bolts.

[forty]

The old Amp Research rotors only had 3 bolts in stock form. Of course, those rotors had a whole lot more material in them than most of the modern rotors.

amp research... so drool worthy in its time, anything to get away from elastomers

and then hope and was it ringle? did 4 bolt hubs which was also a pita

not sure if serious...

bicyclists have been doing dumb shit since forever, 3 bolt rotors is on the tame end of stupid nonsense

[nickwm21]

Ya'll need a cheap electric screwdriver. Target/walmart purchase. Under $20. Not enough juice to strip a screw but perfect for tasks with seemingly endless turning; rotor bolts, ikea furniture, etc...

[toast2266]

amp research... so drool worthy in its time, anything to get away from elastomers

and then hope and was it ringle? did 4 bolt hubs which was also a pita

Yeah. People bitch about changing standards now, but there was a whole era in the 90's where mountain bike standards barely existed and it seemed like every company was just doing their own thing. There had to have been like 30 different thru axle sizes for a little while there.

[Roxtar]

amp research... so drool worthy in its time, anything to get away from elastomers

You might appreciate:



My B5 w/ all the goodies of the day
Noleen Mega Air fork
XTR 9sp w/ SRAM Rocket shifters
XTR Vs with Altek levers
Bonti Racelites - The originals w/ Chris King hubs
LP Composite carbon post, bars, and barends
AX Lightness carbon saddle (80 grams-seriously)

[skaredshtles]

Yeah. People bitch about changing standards now, but there was a whole era in the 90's where mountain bike standards barely existed and it seemed like every company was just doing their own thing. There had to have been like 30 different thru axle sizes for a little while there.

Yep. Buddy lost a QR axle one trip to Fruita, and we used a Yakima tray axle to replace it temporarily... maybe was 12mm? Don't remember, but it was not std 9mm.

[frorider]

What’s your ibis hub look like? Exposed flange holes like this Novatec https://www.bike24.com/p2330676.html can be used with a nyloc nut and a bolt.

I can swap rotors plenty fast by hand. Never occurred to me to fuck around with a drill to save 73.42 seconds but whatever.