American Classic 420 Aero
04-19-12, 07:58 PM
#1
Fly on the wall
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 981
Bikes: a few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
American Classic 420 Aero
Just got a Specialized Langester Pro, that came with some American Classic 420 Aero wheels.
I'm having an issue securing the rear wheel. It has a bolt that an 8mm hex wrench is supposed to fit... However my Park Tool basic hex set does not fit this properly. A guy running my local track advised me to go to a hardware store and find threaded 15mm bolts to replace the 8mm hex/bolts that came with the bike.
Last time at the track I thought I got it tightened down properly with my park tool hex. However today, after riding about 10 minutes of laps, I took a break to adjust my seat and got back on my bike... 50m down on the track and my rear wheel came loose.
I went into the track's shop and discovered a pedro's 8mm wrench, that fit like a glove. Hopefully next time I go to practice my wheel won't come loose.
In short, my question is should I try and get a 15mm bolt, or just tinker with the 8mm?
This sounds a bit obscure and pictures may be in order... next time I go to the track I'll take some.
I'm having an issue securing the rear wheel. It has a bolt that an 8mm hex wrench is supposed to fit... However my Park Tool basic hex set does not fit this properly. A guy running my local track advised me to go to a hardware store and find threaded 15mm bolts to replace the 8mm hex/bolts that came with the bike.
Last time at the track I thought I got it tightened down properly with my park tool hex. However today, after riding about 10 minutes of laps, I took a break to adjust my seat and got back on my bike... 50m down on the track and my rear wheel came loose.
I went into the track's shop and discovered a pedro's 8mm wrench, that fit like a glove. Hopefully next time I go to practice my wheel won't come loose.
In short, my question is should I try and get a 15mm bolt, or just tinker with the 8mm?
This sounds a bit obscure and pictures may be in order... next time I go to the track I'll take some.
04-20-12, 10:21 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: St Louis
Posts: 1,846
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Multi tools usually dont have the highest quality parts. They are a convience tool. Similiar to the way a hand pump can work in a pinch, but you really want to use a floor pump. My advice would be, if you can, spin off the 8mm bolt and take it to your local hardware store, and find a nice high quality hex wrench for it.
04-20-12, 05:48 PM
#3
A little North of Hell
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
non-metric
I believe the bolts are SAE.
edit: my bad.
Strong track quality bolts are 3/8” x 24 Tpi and work with an easy to use 8 mm allen key socket head.
https://www.amclassic.com/en/products/hubs/trackrear.php
edit: my bad.
Strong track quality bolts are 3/8” x 24 Tpi and work with an easy to use 8 mm allen key socket head.
https://www.amclassic.com/en/products/hubs/trackrear.php
Last edited by Soil_Sampler; 04-20-12 at 05:51 PM. Reason: half wrong!
04-24-12, 11:40 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I agree.
Whatever you choose, you need a good long arm on the wrench in order to tighten it down properly. Think of how long a wrench for a 15mm nut is. If you use hex, it should be similarly as long in order to tighten it down with the same torque.
Whatever you choose, you need a good long arm on the wrench in order to tighten it down properly. Think of how long a wrench for a 15mm nut is. If you use hex, it should be similarly as long in order to tighten it down with the same torque.
Multi tools usually dont have the highest quality parts. They are a convience tool. Similiar to the way a hand pump can work in a pinch, but you really want to use a floor pump. My advice would be, if you can, spin off the 8mm bolt and take it to your local hardware store, and find a nice high quality hex wrench for it.
04-24-12, 08:50 PM
#5
Fly on the wall
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 981
Bikes: a few
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Thanks guys!
Turns out that my 8mm (stand alone) hex from park tool was just a bit too rounded. The park tool hex from another rider's multitool worked like a charm.
I think I'll order a pedro's 8mm hex wrench.
Turns out that my 8mm (stand alone) hex from park tool was just a bit too rounded. The park tool hex from another rider's multitool worked like a charm.
I think I'll order a pedro's 8mm hex wrench.
04-30-12, 11:22 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 485
Bikes: A little of each
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
You could try an 8mm pedal wrench. They're built longer to give you more leverage to get stuck pedals off. The same will help to get your wheels tight. something like https://www.pedros.com/hexpedaldriver.htm or the park HT-8. I can't seem to get to the park tool page right now.
