Are Deda Ti bolts always this bad?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

User avatar
MajorMantra
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 pm

by MajorMantra

I recently built my bike with a Deda Zero 100 Servizio Corse stem. Standard, good quality allen keys seemed a poor fit in the bolt heads and one of them came close to rounding at around 4Nm.

I'm now on the hunt for nice SS bolts to substitute, but have to say I'm pretty underwhelmed. I've worked on other bikes with Deda stuff and don't remember a particular issue.

Oh, and before anyone impugns my mechanical abilities, know that I'm a shop mechanic and I've built a lot of bikes.

liam7020
Posts: 1261
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:04 am

by liam7020

Yeah the bolts on that stem really are that bad.
Tarmac SL6 & Campag Record EPS https://weightweenies.starbike.com/foru ... 0&t=153968

"Sometimes you don't need a plan. You just need big balls." Tom Boonen

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
ergott
Posts: 2870
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:03 am
Location: Islip, NY
Contact:

by ergott

I've had a few and never had a problem. Just adding my data point.

User avatar
mythical
Posts: 1515
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:49 am
Location: Europe
Contact:

by mythical

Sure, some bolts are stubborn. Anyway, in all my years with the various Deda products that passed my hands, I never experienced a single bolt failure. When a bolt and tool didn't fit properly, I usually forced the tool into an angle after insertion not to damage the bolt. That always did the trick. My most commonly used tool was a Park Tool Y-wrench. Alternatively, you can fit a Torx T25 into a 4mm Allen bolt and, if it's rounded, perhaps a T27. Didn't I wrench on your Deda as well, Eric?
“I always find it amazing that a material can actually sell a product when it’s really the engineering that creates and dictates how well that material will behave or perform.” — Chuck Teixeira

User avatar
ergott
Posts: 2870
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:03 am
Location: Islip, NY
Contact:

by ergott

One of.

RichTheRoadie
Tinker, Taylor, Tart
Posts: 2070
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:00 pm
Location: Sydney, Aus.

by RichTheRoadie

Had a bolt on a Deda stem snap recently before it got to 5Nm (yes, I was using a torque wrench!).

User avatar
Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

Substitute Ti bolts from Pro-Bolt and you will never have a problem.
Rolled rather than cut threads and better quality control.

Nice anodize colors also.

User avatar
PSM
Posts: 1706
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:45 pm
Location: Stockholm, The Arctic...

by PSM

I buy my bolt from Ti-bolts U.K.

Dedas bartape snaps too... :(

User avatar
MajorMantra
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 pm

by MajorMantra

To be honest I'd be as happy or happier replacing the bolts with good quality stainless steel. I'm having trouble finding such a thing though - can anyone point me to a reasonably priced source? Pro-Bolt mentioned above lists nice tapered head ones but they are absurdly expensive. Paying over £3 per bolt for steel seems mad.

User avatar
prendrefeu
Posts: 8580
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:32 pm
Location: Glendale / Los Angeles, California
Contact:

by prendrefeu

eBay?
The bolts are fairly standard, no? I might be mistaken, but from experience swapping bolts on an ol' Zero 100 stem it certainly seemed to be the case.
Most stems use the same size bolts.
Exp001 || Other projects in the works.

User avatar
MajorMantra
Posts: 286
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 pm

by MajorMantra

It's easy enough to buy bog standard socket cap bolts but nice ones with slimmer or tapered heads are harder to come by. And I'm trying to avoid anything claiming to be bike specific since that always inflates the price.

bm0p700f
in the industry
Posts: 5777
Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 7:25 pm
Location: Glermsford, Suffolk U.K
Contact:

by bm0p700f

I have hundreds of stainless bolts. DJ Evens in Bury St Edmunds has a warehouse full but I am lazy and get mine from bike part distributors. My last lot came from fishers.

OwenJames
Posts: 166
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:16 pm

by OwenJames

Yes. I broke a few with absolutely correct torque (digital torque wrench)

User avatar
Rick
Posts: 2034
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:30 pm

by Rick

I broke quite a few bolts on 3T stems. I even went and bought a new torque wrench think I must have gone out of calibration, and they continued to break. A properly made Ti bolt should be as strong or stronger than steel, so I suspect some poor material in the supply line somewhere.
That is why certified material bolts with rolled treads and quality inspection costs more. It seems expensive until you figure the cost of breakage.
Of course the same could be said of everything, and I am riding a cheap asian frame, so we all assess our own cost/risk tolerance.

doozer
Posts: 198
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 11:24 am
Location: fragglerock

by doozer

i bought the deda zero and swapped out the bolts with Ti ones from pro-bolt. cheaper overall and never had any issues.
Dance you cares away, worries for another day, dance your cares away, down at fragglerock.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply