Handlebar problem

[bode]

I have just bought a GreenEdge BlackStar (new model with gears), and am in general pretty pleased with it. I shall post more details and a photo in a few days' time.

Meanwhile, however, I have a problem. There is a bolt on the top of the handlebar column whose function is apparently to help hold on the handlebars themselves and strengthen the joint.
When I collected the bike from ETS in Cambridge, the bolt was loose and rattled every time I went over a bump. They were unable to tighten it, so I emailed GreenEdge and they sent me the attached photos of the bolt, saying that they could tighten it for me if I called in at their Battersea HQ. That would be a bit difficult, but I called at a bike shop in Bath and the poor guy spent half an hour unsuccessfully trying to tighten the bloody thing. The trouble is that you need to be able to stop the large nut on the inside from revolving whilst turning the bolt at the top with an allen key. A long screwdriver is just not able to get enough grip

What it really seems to need is some sort of wide blade with a gap in the middle to accommodate the threaded part of the bolt as it protrudes through the bottom of the nut. It needs to be able to reach about 20cm into the handlebar tube and into the slots on the bottom of the nut. Does such a tool exist, or does anyone have any other suggestions for this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jac]

hi you could file the middle out of a large flat screwdriver and then hold screwdriver with some moll grips

jim

 

[bode]

hi you could file the middle out of a large flat screwdriver and then hold screwdriver with some moll grips

Unfortunately, I don't think that would work. I would have to file a 1cm gap in a 2cm-wide screwdriver, which probably doesn't exist. Also the gap or slot would have to be several cm long to accommodate the screw thread.
I suppose I might be able to cut something out of sheet metal...

 

[flecc]

Hi Bode. The simplest way to fabricate a tool for this would be to get any piece of tubing long enough and which fits over the bolt thread.

Then hacksaw two slits into one end to leave two tongues between the cuts to line up with the slot in that ring nut. Cut the tube then from either side to remove semi circles of tubing, leave those two tongues standing proud.

The tube is then your tool which you can insert and hold with a mole wrench or similar. Alternatively drill a hole through it and use a tommy bar to hold it still.
.

 

[bode]

Thank you, Flecc. I shall try that in the next couple of days.

 

[Blew it]

An idea

If you've got a hacksaw and file, you could fashion a tool out of a length of thick walled tubing. If you cut less than half way through the diameter on both sides, and then cut vertically to join the two cuts, that would leave you with two prongs to fit into the slots, the bolt passing into the pipe.

Come to think of it, you wouldn't need thick walled tubing. Perhaps 15 mm copper plumbing tube would do. It only has to hold the nut while the allen bolt screwed up tight.

Just an idea

Bob

 

[Blew it]

Oops

Sorry Flecc, we crossed, your too quick for me!

 

[flecc]

No prob Bob, great minds and all that!

Second opinions are alway reassuring anyway.
.

 

[bode]

Thanks again to both of you.

 

[Bigbee]

Ive got a better idea,why not take it back and get your money back?You shouldnt have to butcher a brand new £900 plus bike to get it to work properly

 

[bode]

Ive got a better idea,why not take it back and get your money back?You shouldnt have to butcher a brand new £900 plus bike to get it to work properly

Thank you for your suggestion, but I am perfectly happy with the bike in other ways, and it's not a question of "butchering" the bike, but of tightening a bolt that obviously got missed. These things happen, as this forum has shown many times.
And although the price of the bike is now £925, I got it for £800 as an early adopter. I certainly wouldn't want to wait for the next container-load to get a replacement

 

[Stephen-Gately]

Bode after some research I believe I have found the solution to your problem. Simply paste this link into your browser.

YouTube - Flobots - Handlebars

 

[bode]

Sorted!

Green Edge said they would fix it if I brought it to them. When they found that they couldn’t easily do so, they gave me a completely new bike on the spot, and swapped over all my added accessories and tyres! Good after-sales service or what?