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Fed up with rounding bolts off so I'm thinking of switching my bolts to Torx, any thoughts?
invest in decent allen keys and be less ham fisted
If you're ham fisted you'll round anything. I'd not bother. Just stop being an oaf.
any thoughts?
Yep - if you're fed up with rounding out hex bolts you'll find small torx fixings and the driver bits even more fun!!
Looks like that's settled then 😆
You'd probably be better swapping them for stainless steel hex bolts
Well thats a lot of constructive guff..thanks boys.. 😉 seriously though Torx are designed NOT to cam out ergo should work better yes?
designed NOT to cam out
however in practice....
I find they cam out a lot less easily than Allen bolts..
Torx were invented because socket caps round too easily.
They are used for brake discs and Rohloff use them on the hub and shifter, so there's no reason why you can't use them elsewhere.
Well thats a lot of constructive guff.
Why? We all have allen bolts, and don't destroy them. If you do you must be using either a) crap tools or b) too much force.
Just learn to tighten things properly!
IMO torx bolts are no less prone to rounding, in fact the only bolt I've ever rounded was a T20 rotor bolt (alu admittedly, but never had a problem with hex-head alu bolts).
Edit: XX uses torx head bolts everywhere, no hex-head bolts at all. There's certainly no practical reason you can't fit them everywhere.
Oooooohhhh somebody got out of bed the wrong side..not see the cheeky wink I gave you???
So next point recommend me some good Allen bolts puhlease..
Get some good tools, much easier!
Recommendation for tools?
a bad workman blames his tools....
for good tool look at park, pedros, rs components etc etc etc.
Why blame the worker ? Torx were invented for a reason. They are better than Allen bolts, just as Allen bolts are better than Pozi screws. That's why they are so widely used by vehicle manufacturers.
mrlebowski - Member
Recommendation for tools?
I got some Birzman ones that are nice.
Park ones generally a lot cheaper on EBay
Thank you to those who gave good advice 😉
Could the problem you're having be due to not cleaning out the bolt cavity before inserting the allen key? If the key can't engage fully this can easily cause rounding.
If you want to.
But I wouldn't, personally.
Could the problem you're having be due to not cleaning out the bolt cavity before inserting the allen key?
The biggest problems I've observed with technique would be starting to turn the tool before it's actually fully in the bolt head; and failing to keep the keep the tool straight once it is in. An apparent lack of mechanical sympathy is surprisingly common.
If you're easily rounding hex heads, there's a fair chance [as others have said] that your technique is somewhat lacking
Going to Torx heads, where a better purchase can be applied, may result in the screw snapping rather than the current issue you have if you over-tighten.
I reckon try decent fitting Allen keys first - Cheap ones are awful - they round as they dont fit well enough and allow rotation inside the head every time you torque it!!
I thought Torx were used because they work better with powered drivers in factories. Torx heads also clog up much more easily with mud.
I'd buy a set of Halfords Professional hex bits, a 1/4" drive torque wrench with 2 to 25NM range and a big pot of copper grease
I find I round off torx head bolts a lot easier. The "hole" seems too shallow to get a good purchase and I have to be very careful not to round the bloody things off. I don't really get why they're used on disc brakes and hardly anything else, allen keys are fine.
I find I round off torx head bolts a lot easier. The "hole" seems too shallow
That's probably because they're pan head or button head rather than the deeper socket head
They use torx on rotor bolts because you need a small button head to prevent fouling on forks, adapters, calipers etc.
If you get an allen key button head then it will use a very small allen key compared to the cap head bolt of the same diameter. The torx bit for the same size and head bolt is bigger and less likely to round out.
Torx were invented for a reason. They are better than Allen bolts,
Not all bolts are equal. Good Allen bolt better than crap torx.
Good Torx tools also seem harder to find. I've knackered a few (disc bolt sized) torx keys - you can get enough force through them that the tool head twists before the torx bolt rounds.
Harder to get the mud out of a torx head as well IME.
Not a fan. Especially now that they've started creeping onto bikes in multiple sizes - the emergency toolkit starts to grow in size.
So, where to buy good quality torx tools?
unbrako cap screws and decent hex keys..
unbrako guarantee that if you use their keys that key will not snap off in the screw. Virtually no chance of rounding.
I have used them as conrod bolts, cycliner head bolts etc - very well made.
So, where to buy good quality torx tools?
I use Wera Hex-Plus keys; but also have a Wera 1/4" ratchet with their hex and Torx bits.