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    What are my options here? It won’t tighten or loosen. Don’t want to cut the bolt and never be able to use bottle cage.

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    14 Comments

    3. FerPiero on

      I guess you could try to hold the rivet with a plier while unbolting…
      Or jamming it with a VERY THIN flat screw driver, from the side, may also work. I would even try 2 or 3 screw drivers with 4 hands available.
      Downside, it will at least bend the rivet, maybe beyond repair.
      Upside… it’s already kinda broken anyways 😕

    4. BreakfastShart on

      Get some needle nose pliers, or channel locks, and grab that rivnut. Or, use a flat head screw driver and wedge it between the rivnut and bike frame.

    5. zacrl1230 on

      Impact driver with a hex bit will get it out. Maybe a regular drill with said hex bit will do it, maybe not.

      Once you get the bolt out, you’ll need to drill out and replace the rivnut.

      Most local bike shops can help you if you don’t have the tools yourself.

    6. InsaneLasagna on

      Two steps.
      1. Grab the end of the rivnut with needle nose pliers and unscrew the bolt. If this fails, you will need needle nose locking pliers.

      2. Replace or re-crimp the rivnut. The easiest way to recrimp with a stack of washers and a bolt. You can also use a rivnut setting tool.
      The better solution is to drill out the rivnut and replace it with a fresh one.

      Lots of YouTube videos for the various ways to accomplish step 2.

    8. boopiejones on

      Hold down the rivnut with a flathead screwdriver. Once the bolt is out, you can attempt to tighten the rivnut or, if that doesn’t work, drill it out and install a new one.

    9. alfsdungeons on

      You’re bloody fortunate the bolt is barely inserted! Just grab the rivnut with pliers and unscrew the bolt. Your LBS should be able to help replace the rivnut.

    10. Physical-Parfait-315 on

      I’ve had luck with wrapping dental floss around the rivnut just to give it enough grab to undo the bolt- then use the nut and bolt method to tighten the rivnut again

    12. blipsnchiiiiitz on

      This sub never fails to remind me just how non-mechanically inclined some people are… Even when I was a child, I would have figured this out on my own. Good grief man.

    13. Double_Butterfly7782 on

      Obvious new bike day. That one is completely broken. That is what I would tell my wife if it was my bike .

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