Stripped bolts bottle cage

Been there done that…. Those bolts suck!! They are fragile even when the threads are “clean”, but they work.

I used pliers and stayed careful. Got the job done, but it is risky. I did not use the pliers from the side (clamping the bolt head on two sides), but from the top (clamping inside the hole and one side of the bolt). That eventually messed up the bolt enough to get a grip.

The simplest thing is to either jam something in there (like a torx bit that is slightly larger) or cut a slot so you can use a screwdriver – dremel or hacksaw. Should be easy enough once you’ve got a decent grip.

Take her to the shop. That’s warranty