Threaded Bleed Screw

I did a bad thing and over-tightened the bleed port screw on my Shimano MT501 brake lever.

It doesn’t tighten now and is only held in by one thread. I’m hoping it’s just the screw that is threaded but I can’t tell with my bad eyes. I’ve googled around to get a replacement screw but I’m not sure which one is needed.

Are the screws known to be soft or have I likely boshed the thread on the lever?

I can’t find a screw for the exact model.

Should I take a punt on this?

It’s for the BL-M785. Looks similar.

I think its likely the thread in the body has gone as the screw is likely to be steel and the body alloy

Steel bolt in aluminium body? I know which one my money’s going on, had a customer do one a month or two ago, not too expensive to replace, but the levers are out of stock at Madison. The good new is you can replace it with just about any of Shimano’s levers.Edit- MT201 or 401 are available for £15 or £17rrp.

The good new is you can replace it with just about any of Shimano’s levers.Edit- MT201 or 401 are available for £15 or £17rrp.

Shop about.. I got a Zee lever for £15 off Amazon next day…

I’m hoping it’s just the screw that is threaded but I can’t tell with my bad eyes.

As above almost certainly the alloy lever but either stick the screw in the other side (very gently) or use a phone etc. to take a photo. (This sometimes takes me a few goes as I can’t tell if its focussed or not but eventually you het a decent one)

I’ve also got a big magnifying glass with crocodile clips … think it was about a tenner?

Yeah I thought it would be the lever. I suppose I can try the screw from the other side before I order a new lever.

On replacing the actual lever itself. To get the hose out, do you just undo the bolt on the hose and pull it out?

Pretty much, it’ll be tight in there, and probably need a wiggle as you’re pulling it. If it still won’t come out, you can carefully squeeze the lever as you’re pulling, but this is a last resort, and can be a bit messy, even with absorbent towels wrapped around it.

@coatesy – thanks 👍

Anyone got any tips on bleeding?
There still doesn’t seem a lot of bite when I pull the lever.

I’ve sanded the bleed block down a little and that seems to have helped but still not great.

I’m using the shimano bleed kit.

Not an expert on these brakes, but look similar to the ones on my OH’s Anthem .

If you do look to replace the lever, pick either the same or one that uses the same hardware on the hose eg.  rubber nose cover (?) and threaded screw in bit etc. So you won’t need to cut the hose to fit the new olive / barb  to fit the rubber cover thingy (boot ?).

I think you should be able to get away with a ‘lever bleed’

Good luck and sympathise with you sight challenge. It’s the main thing that pisses me off about getting older.