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Desperately need a bolt for my 2010 S-Works Epic

5.2K views 24 replies 11 participants last post by  GregPatz  
#1 ·
Hi friends,
I have really enjoyed my new-to-me 2010 S-Works Epic 29er. I have upgraded the hell out of it with great stuff!

Now I'm in big trouble. I was shredding as usual when I noticed my rear wheel flopping around badly, especially rubbing the right chain stay. I thought I broke a spoke, but no such luck. I lost a bolt. This turns out to be a precious proprietary bolt that no one sells anymore. I'll circle what I need:
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In the good old days, you could buy the kit:

Without this magic bolt, my frame is totaled. Help!
 
#9 ·
Not as simple as it sounds as it needs to be a case hardened bolt or it is going to break again. I would try to order two of these from Specialized so as to have a spare one in the future. In some ways it is a manufacturing defect as the engineers under specified the bolt in terms of the material or case hardening.

A product my company makes has a shaft that was being broken when the tool was being used in industrial machinery which was not its planned use. We found that by using a different tempering process (that added about $1 US to the cost of the shaft) it could resist twice as much torque without breaking.

Maybe Specialized would sell you a new frame at a substantial discount. I say maybe as Specialized is not a company that seems to care about customer support after the sale has been made,

It does point out the hazards of buying a 10 year old bike. One can replace many of the parts but with hardtail there is a chance of a cracked crown and not fixable and with a full suspension bike there are special parts that the manufacturer will not keep in inventory once that model goes out of production.

Someone has posted a Stumpjumper for sale at a discounted price as it has a crack on the stock yoke. This begs the question as to what else is in danger of failing even if the yoke can be replaced. Especially with FS bikes where they are usually jumped the value of a used bike needs to be considered with caution.
 
#10 ·
Not as simple as it sounds as it needs to be a case hardened bolt or it is going to break again. I would try to order two of these from Specialized so as to have a spare one in the future. In some ways it is a manufacturing defect as the engineers under specified the bolt in terms of the material or case hardening.

A product my company makes has a shaft that was being broken when the tool was being used in industrial machinery which was not its planned use. We found that by using a different tempering process (that added about $1 US to the cost of the shaft) it could resist twice as much torque without breaking.

Maybe Specialized would sell you a new frame at a substantial discount. I say maybe as Specialized is not a company that seems to care about customer support after the sale has been made,

It does point out the hazards of buying a 10 year old bike. One can replace many of the parts but with hardtail there is a chance of a cracked crown and not fixable and with a full suspension bike there are special parts that the manufacturer will not keep in inventory once that model goes out of production.

Someone has posted a Stumpjumper for sale at a discounted price as it has a crack on the stock yoke. This begs the question as to what else is in danger of failing even if the yoke can be replaced. Especially with FS bikes where they are usually jumped the value of a used bike needs to be considered with caution.
Depressing but fair. However, I believe the bolt worked its way out rather than broke...hard to prove, but my mechanic said this was a common problem in these bikes.
 
#13 ·
any machine shop who makes parts will have small diameter rod stock of the hardest materials...it's not about 'making a proper bolt' it's about finding someone who has time to slot you in, get it done, and not break your wallet.

at any rate, someone has to have this part in stock and can sell it to you
failing that and if you want to keep the bike, buy one used, or make the bolt up custom
 
#14 · (Edited)
I do some hobby machining. I don't have the tools & materials for that bolt (it definitely needs to be hardened) but any reasonably competent professional machinist should be able to make it easily on his lunch break. Go talk to your local auto mechanic -- preferably one that restores vehicles but that's not required -- and they'll know where you can find a machinist who could make this.
 
#15 ·
Others have indicated the bolt must be case hardened. What is it about the picture that makes one assume the bolts are hardened. I am not saying they are or are not, I really do not know. The bike and rider are fairly light compared to most applications. Due to weight concerns, I would think the material is light weight alloys. Since we are talking about one bolt, steel could be used. I would think a person with a lathe would take an existing button head bolt and turn it down. The challenge will be finding the person who will spend the time turning a new bolt. That bolt may cost hundreds.

Is there a such things as a bicycle salvage yard?
 
#16 · (Edited)
Seems like you guys are overthinking this (by miles).

Can you post a picture of the location of this bolt on the frame?
It's tough for me to believe this is something that's impossible to deal with using standard hardware for a few dollars.
It's a shoulder bolt FFS.

You should be able to simply measure it and order a few here:
 
#17 ·
there is no 'must be' anything with this bolt

case hardened might be spec, but induction hardened will work 110% fine.

ffs....if you can't source an OEM just have one made up...simple and gets you rolling
 
#22 ·
I don't know about this bolt per se, but the pivot bolts on my Giant are aluminum (not nearly as strong as something mentioned above). And yes, a good machinist is good at measuring.

Digital calipers are very simple to use and can be purchased for under $10 (if one doesn't already have a set).
That's assuming you can't just find the original specs for the thing, which is also a good possibility.

There's no reason a steel bolt won't work. Might have to add a couple washers or spacers, depending.

Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill.

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