Just building my Orange 5 up after having had it powder coated. Was tightening up the pivot bearing pinch bolt on the swingarm (really not very tight) when it lost grip and started spinning. My heart stopped and my fears were confirmed when half the heli coil popped out on the end of the bolt…
This is a really awkward "C" shaped clamp that looks like it would be awkward/diffucult to tap. What do i do? I'm going to go to my LBS tomorrow to see if they can help. Otherwis i'll call Orange on Monday and will see what they say.
I feel sick.

oops

glue a new helicoil in?

This happened to my road bike, on one of the bottle cage holes, after I'd had it powdercoated. Did they / you block up the holes?

When I stripped the thread on the dust cover on my Five's pivot I popped into Holywell Green at lunch time and Orange sorted it while I waited – no charge. Thank you Mr Orange.

Well. I suppose if Orange managed to tap it in the first place, it is doable with the right tools, so maybe a new heli coil could be inserted… I bloody hope so! 🙁
(FYI, the clamps and bolt holes were all properly masked)

wurth timesert…

wurth timesert…

But how to fit it when access is fouled by a "C" shaped clamp???

If the helicoil has ripped the thread that is is inserted into then you have problems but someone posted on here a solution that would work – a thread insert of a different sort
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/heli-coil-or-nut-insert

Or you can get a threaded bush inserted and retapped

edit :Dang too slow

Still feeling sick…

I have spoken with people from a couple of LBSs in Brighton. Sounds like a sensible solution lies with Orange. I'll call them on Monday. If they can't help then i think i can drill through the hole and then drill another hole in the swing arm 😯 to allow me to insert a nut and use a longer bolt.
I'm feeling better about it. I now believe that it is fixable, even if Orange can't tap a new thread.

Worst outcome is a new swingarm innit? at least the whole frame isnt fubar'd.

Never been a fan of heli-coil. I'd avoid them.

How much metal do you have left around it? I'd re-tap.

it is helicoiled initially i think zd

Helicoil (or similar threaded insert) is the only sensible system to use for fasteners in alloy . . . much, much more robust than a thread in alloy, no matter how careful you are alloy threads always fail, properly installed helicoils are much stronger . . .

"C" shaped clamp means that unless there is a fancy tapping tool at Orange HQ you can't get access to the bolt hole… Here's a piccy i took earlier.

I reckon if it can't be tapped, then i'll just have to drill out the thread and work out some way to locate a nut inside the swingarm and use a longer bolt. Not ideal, but it would certainly be strong enough. Again, I hope!

Which hole has lost its thread? If you can get a bolt into it you can get a tap I would have thought

Hi,

I had this on mine – perils of buying a secondhand frame… Anyway, chaps at Orange were adamant it could be helicoiled and it was nearly on its way to them when I tried a much simpler solution. The stock bolt on mine was about 30mm long (giving about 10mm of thread engagement) so I tried a 45mm bolt. Turned out there was a lot more thread in that hole than was strictly necessary. Worked just fine, and that was about two years ago now. I am very careful with the torque on that bolt, though. Orange recommend about 14Nm (IIRC), I use 10 and that does the job.

The original thread damage on mine wasn't too severe, though – partially stripped / rounded rather than stripped bare.

TJ's right, the tap wouldnt be any bigger than the bolt would it!

Surely the tap would be bigger than the bolt because it's got to make a hole that would accommodate the helicoil, which the bolt would then go in?
Great news mttm. That's reassuring. Thanks. 🙂

I thought this thread was about a very niche issue of the mag.

don,t drill it yet,there is such a thing as threadlock glue (loctite 638 etc)this is expensive however, try contacting a local engineering company and begging for a small amount,remember to clean surfaces with thinners etc before applying glue then screw in helicoil,allow 24 hrs to dry.good luck.

Nothing is worse than that feeling you get when a thread lets go. 😥

Yup, I've had that sick feeling. Rounded the head on a heckler 07 swing arm pinch bolt.

that looks absolutely ok to fix, as already mentioned above the clearance hole will allow for a tap.

happy days

I have spoken with Ben at Orange. He seems confident that a new, bigger thread can be tapped and a bigger bolt inserted (all of this if a new helicoil can't be inserted into the current thread). My frame's out of warranty now but he reckons it will take less than an hour of workshop time, so probably no more than £50 cost to me. Swingarm's going in post today.
I am happy, of sorts 🙂

for a more cost effective fix a local engineering firm would be my choice, get a good one though!! my local one is run by a mtber so he is ace with any repairs.
£50 + postage for a tapped hole is bloody expensive. it takes less than 5 mins really.

on the flip side at least with orange they know their product.

let us know how you get on..

No luck with a longer bolt then?

fatmuthahubbard, agree about cost. I could go to my LBS who have the tools to do this. However, the cost to worry ratio for Orange's fix is acceptable.

nickegg i didn't try the long bolt. I think it would have been a bit of a bodge, and i don't think £50 is too excessive for more significant peace of mind.
🙂

I'd get it resprayed again as well while your at it.

only joking – seriously – hope you get it fixed OK.

sometimes you just can't put a price on piece of mind..i understand that.
hope all goes well.

Easy fix u just need a step down boss making by local engineering firm.
Take bolt larger than existing.
Drill out existing hole and re tap to larger size
make bush with thread on outer or use bolt of said larger size.
Drill and tap with lathe the original thread down the inside.
Partially part off wall at correct depth.
Screw into new hole with loctite and break off at partially parted off section.
Chean up with file.
Simples.

peakmonster, i think you're forgetting that it's a "C" shaped clamp, so access to the hole is via another hole…

Shouldn't worry, I've just had two thermocouples fail before they've even been used. Thats 75 quids worth of sensors failed during assembly.

tis fixable by an engineering firm, not a bike shop with tools 😉

As peakmonster says

tis fixable by an engineering firm, not a bike shop with tools

Weeeeeell, i'm hoping that all it needs is a new helicoil in the current thread, which my LBS could do. But why risk it if it needs something more brutal? I also know of no local engineering firms, good or bad 🙂

djglover – Member

This happened to my road bike, on one of the bottle cage holes, after I'd had it powdercoated. Did they / you block up the holes?

Still not fixed, but it's doing sterling service as a commuter 🙂

Swingarm back from Orange with new helicoil. All looks good. I will fit it tonight.
🙂

Every Christmas stocking should have an Orange of some description in it, innit.

I had exactly the same problem at the beginning of the year trying to get my swing arm bearings replaced. The bearings are totally seized on and I stripped the thread as a result of a little bit too much grunt.
Dilemma was solved by the formula: 2004 frame + ~20% cost of new frame = 2004 frame.
I bought a new 2009 frame. All the existing kit went straight back on the new frame. Very happy with the new geometry.

I might still get the old frame repaired at £50 but I think the real problem is getting the old bearing off.

Note to all 5 owners. Change your swing arm bearing every couple of years regardless.