deformed allen keys

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

M

You must have some very poor "Allen keys", in my experience even relatively
cheap hex head wrenches are manufactured from very hard and tough material.

http://tinyurl.com/24rzpx

MJP

MJP said:

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

M

You must have some very poor "Allen keys", in my experience even relatively
cheap hex head wrenches are manufactured from very hard and tough material.

http://tinyurl.com/24rzpx

Yeah - I've had more snap than deform. Them's is HARD.

BugBear

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

Yeah, yours must be made from recycled woolies BSOs.

Jc.

On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:27:36 +0100, "MJP" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

M

You must have some very poor "Allen keys", in my experience even relatively
cheap hex head wrenches are manufactured from very hard and tough material.

http://tinyurl.com/24rzpx

-ahem- probably got them in mfi flatpacks during the 80s, so they
would probably aspire to being poor! I'm off to B&Q to see what
they've got so that I can get out on the bike early tomorrow!

:-)

M

Maurice W said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

Instead of cheese from your local cheese/pound/bike shop, get some made
chrome vanadium hardened steel. CR-V, for short. Much more durable but
still only about a quid for a set, amazingly. These are just bog standard
size and shape. You'll have to shop elswehere and pay a lot more if you
want good longer keys or ball-ended ones.

~PB

I scribbled:

Quoted message said:

Instead of cheese from your local cheese/pound/bike shop, get some
made chrome vanadium hardened steel. CR-V, for short. Much more
durable but still only about a quid for a set, amazingly. These are
just bog standard size and shape. You'll have to shop elswehere and
pay a lot more if you want good longer keys or ball-ended ones.

Link got lost in the edit:

.....quid for a set from www.mikedyason.com

~PB

Maurice W said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

M

<whispers> Halfords. Professional tool range is pretty good.

--
Mike
Van Tuyl titanium Dura Ace 10
Fausto Coppi aluminium Ultegra 10
Raleigh Record Sprint mongrel

mb said:

Maurice W said:

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

Quoted message said:

<whispers> Halfords. Professional tool range is pretty good.

Those found in the car section are cheaper than those found in the bike
section!

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

It is worth keeping an eye on Aldi. I bought a set a couple of years ago,
have used them on bikes, motorbikes, cars, machinery at work and they are
still as good as new. At a couple of quid a set excellent value.

Bill

B & Q do some nice hex keys.

(Ellen MacArthur fan :-))

Maurice W said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

You're lucky it wasn't an Apollo or it would have been the bolts that
would have been wrecked.

John B

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

-ahem- probably got them in mfi flatpacks during the 80s, so they
would probably aspire to being poor! I'm off to B&Q to see what
they've got so that I can get out on the bike early tomorrow!

I recommend Bahco, Unbrako or Bondhuis... I believe B&Q stock Bahco these
days, and they're well worth the extra... ball ended keys can be useful for
getting at obstructed heads.

Never thank anyone for a set of soft keys... they twist, bugger the heads
and are often undersize.

HTH

Tim
--
Sent from Birmingham, UK... Check out www.nervouscyclist.org
'I find sometimes it's easy to be myself, but sometimes I find it's
better to be somebody else.' - Dave Matthews 'So Much To Say'
My 'reply to' address is valid, mail to the posting address is dumped

"Maurice W" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chaps

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

How are they deformed, are they just twisted?

Maurice W said:

I decided to change the flat handlebars on the racer I got last year
(http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/ROAD/spirit.html) and now find,
that the allen keys I used have deformed in the process of tightening
the nuts that hold the handlebars on, and can't be used anymore (with
the handlebars still loose).

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

I hate to be the only one to suggest this, but is it possible
that the new bars are undersized compared to the clamp ?

I had a similar problem with a seat-post which would
not remain immovable even when the two sides of the
clamp were touching (despite being stamped as being of the
correct diameter), and ended up shimming it with sheet brass
(I did try a proprietary shim, but the home-made one
turned out to be infinitely superior, as well as being
a fraction of the price ...).

Philip Taylor

Richard Bates said:

mb said:

Maurice W said:

Presumably I should be getting some extra-toughened allen keys?

Quoted message said:

<whispers> Halfords. Professional tool range is pretty good.

Those found in the car section are cheaper than those found in the bike
section!

They probably weigh more. It is quite nice to save weight on the things
that are going in your jersey pocket.