As a long time casual rider and first time tinkerer, I was not prepared for what a PITA it was to install mudguards on my new Black Friday bike.
Anyway, I got through it (minus the bit with the hack saw) until I got to the step where I bolt the fender to the seat stay. The included bolts just don’t fit into this hole and I ended up cross threading it a bit because “why don’t I just try turning the bolt with a pair of pliers?”
Is there something special about the GT frame that I don’t know? This one hole requires screws with different threading than all the other holes on the bike? How can I secure this fender so it won’t rattle?
TIA!
by Oh-This-Guy-Pucks
3 Comments
You’re finding out what everyone finds out when they go to install universal-fit fenders- they’re a pain in the ass. I’d recommend you go to the hardware store to find something suitable- you might want to see if a bottle cage bolt fits and just use that for the short term.
Because you’ve either got the wrong size bolt or the threads are clogged with paint.
Where did the bolt come from? Are you confident it’s the right size? If so, I would try taking the fender off, greasing the bolt threads, and gently threading the bolt when there’s nothing pushing it off-center. If you’re still not getting good engagement you should probably go to a shop and get the bolt size checked and/or the threads cleaned up with a tap.