

The barrel adjusters for both derailleurs have seized into this aluminium frame. The heads snapped off when trying to twist them out.
What are my options for replacement parts?
I thought that I should drill these out and then look for an adjuster that can go in line with the cable?
by perfectlycleansliced
9 Comments
Shimano derailleurs, on a Raleigh airline 100.
maybe try some WD40, wait a little bit then force a tooth pick into the bore hole of the adjuster and slowly try and back it out. there are cheap replacement barrel adjusters out there. No need to drill them out and ruin the treads…. Good luck!!!
Extractor bits after soaking the threads with WD40 or another penetrating oil. If that doesn’t work you can carefully drill them out, if you keep the drill perfectly on Center and square you can likely do jo damage and remove enough material to peel the remaining barrel adjuster out.
I’d use a fresh sharp bit and a pin vice. Drill it by hand. They are usually really soft metal.
I would usually use penetrant oil and the heat gun (but not on carbon frames obviously) for a bit then gently hammer a small torx bit in the hole and hope it twists before I get the drill out
4mm drill bit on a dremmel to drill out what is there. (The drill bit often ‘catches’ and removes the stuck threads cleanly).
Then use a set of M5 taps to clean the threads if necessary.
You’ll need the flexible shaft for the dremmel.
Use an extractor bit, I had a broken seat bolt a while back, paid a couple of quid for one, stuck it in the drill and it pulled the rest of the bolt in one second – such a relief.
Get something thin knock it out of there
soak with PB Blaster. Works much better than WD40. Then use an extractor to remove the remaining piece. Once that’s done, get a thread chaser and clean up the threads inside. Install new adjuster and done.