Louis
01-06-2013, 04:51 PM
I recently bought a new, already built-up, single-speed 29'r MTB and it came to me with the axle-puller bolts bent on both sides. It happened exactly where you would expect, bent inward where the threaded portion comes out of the round black donut. (see pics below for a web image of the exact model)
I would guess that one side is bent ~30* and the other ~25*. It probably happened due to a combination of too much pulling and a low-quality bolt. I bet this is a relatively common thing, because some pullers (including this one) do not pull back in a straight line, but at an angle, which gets worse and worse the farther you go.
I might have just left them on, but I needed to take the rear wheel off to change the tire, so now that I have it apart, I think I should consider fixing things.
I figure I have at least 4 options:
1) Put wheel back on without even using a puller.
2) Leave it as is (re-use bent puller).
3) Try to bend them back and re-use.
4) Replace with a better model.
Any suggestions? If I go with #4, have you found any particular types to be better than the others?
TIA
http://www.universalcycles.com/images/products/small/48960.jpg
I would guess that one side is bent ~30* and the other ~25*. It probably happened due to a combination of too much pulling and a low-quality bolt. I bet this is a relatively common thing, because some pullers (including this one) do not pull back in a straight line, but at an angle, which gets worse and worse the farther you go.
I might have just left them on, but I needed to take the rear wheel off to change the tire, so now that I have it apart, I think I should consider fixing things.
I figure I have at least 4 options:
1) Put wheel back on without even using a puller.
2) Leave it as is (re-use bent puller).
3) Try to bend them back and re-use.
4) Replace with a better model.
Any suggestions? If I go with #4, have you found any particular types to be better than the others?
TIA
http://www.universalcycles.com/images/products/small/48960.jpg