There is a company called Walton Manufacturing that makes mechanical tap removers, they are available down to the 3mm size of dropout adjusters. I have a few, and haven't had to use any yet. They're available through industrial suppliers. Classic relevance: Saving classic parts nonviolently!
David FeldmanVancouver, WA
>
>
> Jim Allen <jimallen@nctimes.net> wrote: You need
> to tell the machinist the tap
> size, they generally aren't familiar with bike
> parts...it almost always 3mm x .8mm.
>
> Just so nobody gets mis-tapped, the screws are
> usually 3mm x 0.50mm.
>
> Tom Dalton
>
> Bethlehem, PA
>
>
>
>
> What you need is someone that does "tap removal". If
> there are machine
> shops in your area, they will know who has the
> specialized equipment to do
> this. Or look in the yellow pages under "Machine
> Shops".
>
> Basically, the bolt/tap is electrically vaporized
> with a pointed probe.
>
> In our area, North San Diego County in Southern
> California, I have used
> Slivnik Machine in San Marcos. They have removed
> several dropout screws as
> well as taps from dropouts for me. You need to tell
> the machinist the tap
> size, they generally aren't familiar with bike
> parts...it almost always 3mm
> x .8mm.
>
> It is pretty amazing that this can be done without
> harming the paint, but it
> is possible. I believe that last time they charged
> around $50 ... that's
> much better than replacing the dropout and
> repainting/rechroming.
>
> They may be the same company that Jimbo at Cyclart
> used, as mentioned in the
> second reply below.
>
> If you're really cheap, I once saw an article in a
> magazine on how to build
> a simply EDM to do this.
> Required about $20 in parts... a light bulb and a
> diode were the major
> items. No, I don't remember the exact magazine, but
> it was probably Popular
> Electronics, Popular Science, one of those types.
>
>
>
>
>
> --- snip ---
> Here's a plea for help going out to the frame guys:
> I broke off a dropout
> screw just as the end was reaching the dropout. Now
> the bad news: the screw
> broke off nearly flush on the other side. What do I
> do now? Drill and E-Z
> out? Any recommendations? Thanks.
>
>
>
> Breakin' 'em off in Freedom, CA
>
> -snip----
>
> Jody
>
> When I had that happen, I shipped the frame to
> Cyclart. They have
> access to a machine shop-type tool which will do the
> job with no trauma
> to the frame. Check with Jim.
>
> Ken, near St Louis-- hot
>
> --- snip ----
>
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