Got directed to here from /out/. Hopefully yall can help. Copy pasting my post from there.Had to pack my bike into my car for a move and I'm pretty sure I fucked it up like a retard.Front wheel had to come off for it to fit, but I didn't know that the axle bolt was a loosen-only type deal and didn't actually come all the way out. Sat there just spinning it thinking it was stripped but ended up stripping it in the process. Lots of metal shavings in the axle threads and when I put the wheel on and tighten it, the wheel just falls off under load, so the threads are definitely fucked and not biting. I think both the wheel bolt and axle threads are fucked. Don't worry about the brake rotor, I took it off (I bent it oops).How do I fix this bros? The wheel hub bolt comes out (so I've seen) so that can be replaced. What about the axle threads? You think I can rethread them using a tap or do I need to buy a whole new front fork since the axle is integrated and it'll be too hard to rethread? I've heard bike shops are expensive so I want to DIY it if I can. Idk the model I didn't buy it, all I know is that it's a lefty Cannondale.
You might be able to thread the axle with a new size and make a bolt that fits from the other side.Issue is it's cannondales proprietary lefty fork which is a weird thing that only some people have experience with.Get us more pictures of the fucked fork, bolt, and axle threads.
>>2023283>wheel boltHard to see in there but it looks pretty chewed up.
>>2023284>axle threadsVery fucked, lots of metal shavings
>>2023285>forkFork itself is fine, just can't remove the axle since it's integrated. Will suck if I have to replace the whole thing if rethreading doesn't work.
>>2023286I'm not a bike wrencher, Im a car guy, so sorry if I'm mislabeling any of these parts.
>>2023286To me it looks like you left the internal section of the hub+axle on the fork. Start with a thorough cleaning, the real question is can the bolt from the hub come out, and if it can you could then thread that, and the hub axle to match and maybe be okay.
>>2023292If you mean like this, yes it can. I'll clean it, remove the bolt from the wheel, see if it threads into the axle, and if not, try a rethread.
>>2023286Is the axle really integrated into the fork with no way to replace it? That's a flawed design if so
>>2023300From what I can tell, there's no way to remove the axle. I can give it another look over later, but I'm fairly certain it's non-removable.
>>2023281sounds like a cager problem
>>2023303Out of curiosity I looked it up and I read that it's an integrated part of the fork which can't be removed (which is dumb but I understand it's for structural integrity). Anyways, I coincidentally ran into a post of someone who stripped their fork's axle thread and their solution was using a HeliCoil insert of the same thread size/pitch.
>>2023317Helicoils are dope kinda scary to trust on a wheel though
OP can you tell us the model and year of the bike? If not, can your provide a picture of the frame of the bike? Like the whole bike in frame
>>2023364Yeah, it's a little iffy being the only interface holding the wheel but it's better than stripped threads and cheaper than buying a new fork. It's the price to pay for such a special snowflake fork design.
>>2023364Use red loctite. In most cases the helicoil is stronger since it's a steel thread vs aluminum. Seems like it's been working on many bikes until OP stripped the threads.
>>2023281Proprietary American shit strikes again. Buy standardized hardware next time and never buy cannondale.The lefty fork relies on the axle being one with the leg. Otherwise this monstrosity wouldn't work at all.I'd say the threads on the axle might be alright, but you should chase them.If they're fucked, helicoil is your last option.Bolt obviously needs replacement.If all fails you can always replace this stupid fork with a normal one (suntour, rockshox, fox, etc.).
>>2023365Couldn't get to replying until now. I inherited the bike so I have no idea what year or model it is. Can't find any indication of a model name/number on it.>>2023317>>2023364>>2023395>>2023397If helicoil is my best option next to buying a whole new fork, it doesn't hurt to try it. Worst that could happen is it snaps and I eat pavement and have to buy a new fork anyway.
>>2023408Looks like a decent bike. As the other anon said maybe try and chase the threads and replace the bolt first, then go helicoil if the prior doesn't work.
>>2023409Will do
