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Can we talk about the old guy at the co-op who told me to use a 2.5mm hex on a stripped 3mm bolt?

He said to tap it in hard and turn slow, and it actually worked on a stripped seatpost clamp bolt last week. I was ready to drill it out, but his trick saved the part. Has anyone else had luck with that size trick, or is it just asking for trouble?
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3 Comments
sarah198
sarah1982mo ago
My buddy stripped a derailleur hanger bolt on a trail ride last month. Some guy at the trailhead told him to hammer a torx bit in there instead. It got him home, but the bit was totally stuck afterward. He had to cut the bolt head off with a dremel. It works in a pinch, but you might wreck your tools.
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the_mary
the_mary2mo ago
That sounds like a last resort move, honestly.
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andrewt41
andrewt4129d ago
...and honestly I've done the torx trick myself on a seized pedal once. It worked but I had to buy a new bit after. The 2.5mm hex trick is way safer though since hex keys are cheap and easy to replace. Plus you can usually get the hex out clean if you don't go too crazy hammering it in. Did you have to use any heat or just tap and turn?
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