Removing a rounded ...
 

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Removing a rounded Shimano freestroke screw

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Anyone ever had any success doing this? I've got a lever that someone apparently decided it needed 100 torques when putting it together, the screw on the other brake is absolutely fine. Being a small screw at a funny angle I've got reservations about attacked with with a drill and a screw extractor (not sure I have one that would fit anyway).

Yes I appreciate that it doesn't really do anything (apart from a little help when bleeding) but it's still annoying the life out of me


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 12:49 pm
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Not quite sure on exact sizes/location/accessability and suspect it might be too small/fragile.

Anyway, fyi, old motorbike technique was to use something (punch, chisel), with a sharp bit to make an indent on the side of the screw(ie hammer it in to make an indent) , once you have an indent then change the angle of the hammer so you are pushing the indent in the unscrew direction and then tapping with the hammer to unscrew.

There isn’t a lot of metal on an mtb so I’d be a lot careful…..but it worked quite a few times for me.


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 1:17 pm
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Posted : 27/09/2023 1:18 pm
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Is it totally rounded or just enough to stop a tool engaging? I watched a tips and tricks video recently where Doddy showed the use of a finger end off a nitrile glove placed over the tool to add a bit extra 'filler' and grip and might be worth a try


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 1:44 pm
mashr reacted
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I’ve had luck with a manual impact driver on tiny screws before.


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 2:07 pm
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Cost of replacement lever Vs time and faff


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 2:13 pm
dyna-ti reacted
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Cost of replacement lever Vs time and faff

I bought a replacement lever - also jammed solid. Shimano QA/QC doesn't seem quite what it was


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 3:17 pm
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Warranty


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 3:50 pm
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Is it because the screw is a JIS standard and most people use a normal Phillips screwdriver so it doesn't fit properly?


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 5:27 pm
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Nope, it’s because someone has absolutely jammed it in. The one on the other brake is fine


 
Posted : 27/09/2023 5:36 pm
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Done this. Used a torx bit. Tapped it in with a rubber mallet (gently) and unscrewed the screw, again gently. Those screws are pretty hard to torque too much and are very soft material. More likely someone just used the wrong size of screwdriver as it is an awkward angle and the screws are made of cheese. Replaced the screw with a spare from an old brake lever I had kicking about.


 
Posted : 28/09/2023 7:03 am
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Those screws are pretty hard to torque too much and are very soft material.

Yup, turns out I was wrong about someone jamming it in. Took a final brute force approach last night and got one out - turns out it was the enormous amount of threadlock that was holding it in there instead


 
Posted : 28/09/2023 7:35 am

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