I have some screws loose...

General
1

Four of them, to be exact.

I am learning to ride with a Miyata uni (don’t know the specific model) that a
friend has loaned me, and I’ve gotten to where I can ride around and do turns.
Unfortunately, the four screws at the end of the fork (connecting the fork to
the bearing, if I have the terminology right) work loose very quickly, so that
after about a half-hour of riding I start hearing the click-click-click of loose
bolts and I have to stop and screw them in again.

I’d really rather not ride around with a screwdriver in my pocket (THERE’s a
Darwin award waiting to be won). Any suggestions for how to fix this? The screws
do not appear stripped, but I haven’t looked at the fork or bracket yet.

–
This message brought to you by Bill Gilliland, billg@ucdavis.edu

    "I hate quotations." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
2

Re: [I have some screws loose…]

William Gilliland <billg@ucdavis.edu> wrote: Four of them, to be exact.

I am learning to ride with a Miyata uni (don’t know the specific model) that a
friend has loaned me, and I’ve gotten to where I can ride around and do turns.
Unfortunately, the four screws at the end of the fork (connecting the fork to
the bearing, if I have the terminology right) work loose very quickly, so that
after about a half-hour of riding I start hearing the click-click-click of loose
bolts and I have to stop and screw them in again.

A couple of things you can do. The screws are essentially bolts without a nut so
it does make some sense that they come loose. I would suggest trying one of the
following.

Buy 4 lock washers. These are washers with a gap in them. They look like one
full turn of a spring (ie on end is higher than the other). Thread the washer
onto the bolt and screw on. The washer pushes against the bolt head which makes
it less likely to work loose.

Try buying 4 new bolts/screws (Whatever you want to call them) and see if that
does the trick. I recommend the round profile type that are tightened using an
allen key (hex wrench). The round profile makes them easier on your legs if you
accidentally bash them (or are learning crank idle) An allen key is a lot safer
(And smaller) to carry around while unicycling.

Try a bit of loc-tite (the non-permanent type). You can get some from a bike
shop and it’ll last you donkey’s years. Its also useful for dealing with loose
cranks, pedals etc.

Hope that helps. Use a bit of lock tite

o o Peter Bier o O o Juggler, unicyclist and mathematician.
o/|\o peter_bier@usa.net

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3

Re: I have some screws loose…

Loctite is referred to by color, grade, flavor, and OEM number. The most
accurate way to refer to it is by the OEM number to avoid any confusion. Just
calling it red isn’t very accurate because there is more than one flavor of
red Loctite.

The high strength thread lock (permanent) Red is OEM # 271 The medium strength
thread lock (removable) Blue is OEM # 242

Look at http://www.loctite.com for more products and product specs.

You can usually find the common flavors of loctite at auto parts stores and
hardware stores. There are also some more specialized flavors that are usually
not stocked at consumer stores and is instead sold at industrial supply stores.

john_childs

>From: trdwnds How is “Loctite” sold?
>
>Is it sold as a Mild, Medium, and Spicy like Taco Sauce? Or is it sold in
>colors like I’ve seen elsewhere on this NG?
>
>I too have a few screws loose … and need help.
>
>Steve
>
>P.S. Where to buy this product in the USA?
>

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4

Re: I have some screws loose…

On 10 Jun 2000 03:16:21 GMT, William Gilliland <billg@ucdavis.edu> wrote:
>Four of them, to be exact.
>
>I am learning to ride with a Miyata uni (don’t know the specific model) that a
>friend has loaned me, and I’ve gotten to where I can ride around and do turns.
>Unfortunately, the four screws at the end of the fork (connecting the fork to
>the bearing, if I have the terminology right) work loose very quickly, so that
>after about a half-hour of riding I start hearing the click-click-click of
>loose bolts and I have to stop and screw them in again.

I’m not sure what you actually have, but if they are bolts rather than screws,
there are two solutions.

Best is to get some ‘nyloc’ nuts. They are a nut, with a collar of plastic
(presumably nylon) built in. As you screw the nut onto a bolt, the thread of
the bolt cuts its way through the plastic, which grips tightly. The nut then
does not come loose under vibration or relieving loads. If you do this, it’s
best to replace with new nuts each time you remove them - re-using one will
result in a less good grip (though still better than a normal nut). There are
such things as tapered nuts that do the same thing , but they are rare since
the invention of nyloc.

Alternatively, get some threadlock glue. (‘loctite’ is one brand in the UK).
This is a glue that sets solid when it is not exposed to the air (so the
tube/bottle always comes three-quarters empty). You apply it to the bolt and
then do up the nut. In the thread, no air and the glue sets, holding the nuts in
place. It comes in various grades, I’d suggest a medium grade that will let you
dismantle the nut/bolt in future if you need to.

A third (inferior) solution would be a lock-nut. If the bolt protudes beyond the
nut, put a second nut on and using two spanners hold the first and tighten the
second hard onto it. Although this is the traditional approach, and works well,
I rate it inferior because it is less elegant and it’s unlikely there’s enough
spare bolt for it to work.

Of course, it might not be a nut and bolt you’re on about, so that lot may be
irrelevant.

regards, Ian SMith

|\ /| Opinions expressed in this post are my own, and do
|o o| not reflect the views of Amos, my mbu puffer fish.
|/ | (His view is that snails are very tasty.)
Caspar joins Amos on the web - http://www.achrn.demon.co.uk/caspar.html

5

Re: I have some screws loose…

<billg@ucdavis.edu> wrote:
> (‘loctite’ is one brand in the
>: UK).

> It comes in various grades, I’d suggest
>: a medium grade that will let you dismantle the nut/bolt in future if you
need to.

How is “Loctite” sold?

Is it sold as a Mild, Medium, and Spicy like Taco Sauce? Or is it sold in colors
like I’ve seen elsewhere on this NG?

I too have a few screws loose … and need help.

Steve

P.S. Where to buy this product in the USA?

>
>I got the loctite and it so far has worked very well. Thanks for the tip, I was
>unaware of this stuff!
>
>–
>This message brought to you by Bill Gilliland, billg@ucdavis.edu
>
> “I hate quotations.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
>

6

RE: I have some screws loose…

Good advice from Ian.

> A third (inferior) solution would be a lock-nut. If the bolt protudes

There should be a lock washer on all Miyatas. Make sure those are there. But
there is no nut.

If it’s an older Miyata, those bolts are pretty small (10 mm heads). Be
careful not to overtighten them. I think the Loc-tite is a good idea. I used
to always overtighten mine eventually, until they would strip. Then I tapped
them out to fatter bolts. Later, Miyata changed the design to use fatter
bolts. But if the unicycle has been ridden a lot with the bolts loose, the
threads are probably damaged, and you might need to tap them out to a larger
size to solve the problem.

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone jfoss@unicycling.com www.unicycling.com

“Our time is a most precious commodity, but it’s how we spend it that makes us
rich.” - John Foss

7

Re: I have some screws loose…

Ian Smith <ian@achrn.demon.co.uk> wrote:
: On 10 Jun 2000 03:16:21 GMT, William Gilliland <billg@ucdavis.edu> wrote:

: Alternatively, get some threadlock glue. (‘loctite’ is one brand in the UK).
: This is a glue that sets solid when it is not exposed to the air (so the
: tube/bottle always comes three-quarters empty). You apply it to the bolt and
: then do up the nut. In the thread, no air and the glue sets, holding the nuts
: in place. It comes in various grades, I’d suggest a medium grade that will let
: you dismantle the nut/bolt in future if you need to.

I got the loctite and it so far has worked very well. Thanks for the tip, I was
unaware of this stuff!

–
This message brought to you by Bill Gilliland, billg@ucdavis.edu

    "I hate quotations." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson