Advanced Member
Posted 18 June 2015 - 12:40 PM
The bolts fastening the water bottle cage to the bike frame have broken off and are stuck inside the hole.. any idea how can them out? I tried to drill them out but after 2 broken drill bits with no progress I gave up..
Went to 2 bike shops and several engineering shops but no help...
Member
Posted 18 June 2015 - 03:36 PM
If you have a welder, you may be able to tack another bolt onto the broken screw then undo the screw using a spanner.
Easy Out left hand thread screw extractors may work, but if you have already broken two drill bits, I'm not sure that will work either.
I'm surprised an engineering shop won't help. This should be their cup of tea.
Advanced Member
Posted 19 June 2015 - 11:06 PM
A job like this is quite simple for someone who knows what they're doing - http://bicyclethaila...e-bike-service/
Best of luck
Advanced Member
Posted 21 June 2015 - 11:12 AM
A job like this is quite simple for someone who knows what they're doing - http://bicyclethaila...e-bike-service/
Best of luck
I called PMBS and spoke to Greg.. he is very busy... too busy... not able to help.. obviously doesn't need / want new customers... I will continue looking
Advanced Member
Posted 23 June 2015 - 03:05 PM
I found Greg's polite response (on FaceBook) to the above -
"The recent spate of monsoon weather has left Phuket cyclists scrambling for PMBS services with some clients booking 2 weeks in advance! For those considering using PMBS for the first time please be aware that there is a waiting list for the best bike service in town.
Keep calm & ride on
smile emoticon
Cheers, GD @ PMBS."
As a professionally trained (and licensed) mechanic providing services here in Thailand I can empathize with customers and service providers alike. I've turned away people looking for "Thai priced mechanic services", who expect their 150,000 THB bicycle to be serviced competently and perfectly for 100 THB, and I've also provided what I consider above-and-beyond services (sourcing hard-to-find parts) to select customers who are aware of the uniqueness of modern bicycles and subsequently understand the scarcity of professional bike mechanics in Thailand. At the end of the day, a bike mechanic wants nothing more than to get his customers back out on the road (or trail) on top of a bike that he feels completely confident is up to the task. A good mechanic never rushes, cuts corners, or sends a customer out on a bike he doesn't feel good about himself. Sometimes that includes telling a customer that he'll have to wait - come back later - or even scrap the heap and start fresh.
Advanced Member
Posted 28 June 2015 - 06:06 PM
I wish Greg good luck.. as for the polite reply on his FB.. I have never expected anyone to perform a cheap repair on my bike or do at a cheap cost... I do appreciate the fact and I am happy that Greg is extremely busy but I think that Greg should change his advertising....PMBS stands for Phuket Mobile Bike Service... my experience from calling Greg twice regarding their service is that they are too busy to be mobile..they appear way too busy to be able to come to you... and if your advertising promises don't match your actual service then it can be called misrepresentation.... As for the uniqueness of modern cycles ... repairs mostly involve replacement of adjustment of pre-fabricated components... it is diagnosing the problem that I believe is a unique skill and that comes only with experience through exposure... few bike shops have this..
I tried to get Thalang Bike to fix my bike but they dont even answer their phone... when arriving at their shop I was told they are too busy ... I got hold of Kamala Bike and Khun Yello fixed the bike. .. he did a good job and needs to be mentioned.. when in Phuket I will come back to him... he is able to distinguish between long jobs that will take days and appears to schedule them and emergency repairs that takes 2 or 3 hours to get the customer back on the road... No sense in telling a new customer that he has to book 2 weeks in advance if he is spending only 2 weeks riding in Phuket ...???!!!
I do want to warn those of you planning to do extended riding in the Phuket area to be pleased be aware that the bike repair scene is slow moving... a lot slower then Bangkok... skilful technicians / mechanics appear to be very few... and most appears to be "manyana"... lets not bother today if we can tell the customer to come back tomorrow.... and most repair shops have little capacity... one job and they don't see their way into the future to do plan to take on another one... then again it is a holiday destination and tourist town...
I think best to invest in the tools and fix your own bike ... but not practical to pack of all it with you for 10 days in Phuket...
Getting your bike repaired in Phuket seems to be a mission... good luck
Advanced Member
Posted 28 June 2015 - 08:14 PM
Kamala Bike Shop in Phuket - Featured Bike Shop in August 2011 - Gets great reviews and feedback
http://bicyclethaila...shop-in-phuket/
Advanced Member
Posted 29 June 2015 - 08:54 AM
Kamala Bike Shop in Phuket - Featured Bike Shop in August 2011 - Gets great reviews and feedback
I van add my support.. the only bike shop that is prepared to do some work...
Advanced Member
Posted 04 July 2015 - 11:40 AM
Getting your bike repaired in Phuket seems to be a mission... good luck
Looks like it took you 10 days from first post to last... a little bit of foot work pays off...
Regardless of why you ride a bicycle, you arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and energized!
Advanced Member
Posted 07 July 2015 - 03:38 PM
Looks like it took you 10 days from first post to last... a little bit of foot work pays off...
I have been to Thalang Bike Shop, Kamala Bike Shop, Canondale Shop in Thalang, spoke to Greg 3 time on the phone... Was down in Phuket for 2 weeks and tried to kept the bike on the road... I suggest you first get the fact Paul Harmon...
Advanced Member
Posted 11 July 2015 - 04:57 PM
Yo're posts are dated:
Posted 18 June 2015 - 12:40 PM
Posted 28 June 2015 - 06:06 PM
So the most it took was 10 days. MATHS.
And as I said a little bit of FOOT work paid off...
Regardless of why you ride a bicycle, you arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and energized!
Advanced Member
Posted 12 July 2015 - 07:12 PM
Hmm.. I agree with your maths.. but fail to get your point... possible you don't have the full picture... broken water bottle cage bolts were never repaired .. none of the 10 shops I visited able to do it...
My bike developed other problems after our second ride in Phuket.... I am simply telling guys going to ride in Phuket that bike repairs in Phuket are slow... if you only spending a week or 10 days and you hoping to ride every day hope your bike doesn't pick up a problem as it is likely to take a couple of days to get it fixed... better you obtain the skills to do most running repairs yourself and invest in the necessary tools.. Always sensible to have the bike serviced and good condition before you take off to the slow town of Phuket.. I thought mine was ... mistake on my part...( 
)
that obviously depends on what needs to be fixed... most bike shops in Phuket have limited capacity ...or seemingly unwilling to try and help out to get you back on the road as soon as possible... some of them require that you make an appointment 2 weeks ahead of time... not sensible if you only spending 10 days riding in the area... (smile).. others seem to simply plainly disinterested.. they may have reached their revenue targets and dont need further revenue for the next week or so.. others advertise services here on Bicyclethailand that they do not deliver... misrepresentation I would say.. .. others dont answer their phone... (grin)
As for the legwork... no problem to travel to a repair shop. .. finding that could help was not easy... staying in Mai Kao and getting your bike fixed in Phuket town or in Kamala takes about one and half hours of driving to get to the shop.. in one direction... spending 3 to 4 hours in the traffic on the limited infrastructure in Phuket just to get the bike to the shop is not fun .. if you only have a few days to ride... (?) .. .. need to drive another 4 hours to collect.. after the repair shop took 2 days to fix...
My experience allow me to make the following recommendations...
PMBS says in their advert that they conducting mobile bike services.. they will come to you... my experience they require you to wait 2 weeks for an appointment..
Thalang Bike cant handle more then one job at the time and not interested to attempt diagnosing where the clanking and grinding noises your biking making are coming from... that is if you can get them to answer their phone... 
Canondale Shop in Thalang was burgled and as a result carries very limited spare parts of anything.. understandable ... they are however keen to assist and will order the parts needed... but it takes a few days.. she did answer her phone every time we called... I can recommend their services. 
Kamala Bike shop was far away and took hours in the traffic to reach the shop but they are keen to help and did a good shop.. highly recommended. 
Paul I hope the info helps.. please dont hesitate if more detail is required...
Oh and as I said above.. I am doing a bike maintenance and repair course course that will allow me to fix the bike... ( )...will invest in acquiring the wrenches etc...
Keep your fingers crossed your bike doesnt need repairs while riding in a Phuket for a few days.. you may end up spending more time in the traffic than actually riding your bike... 
And always ride safe! 
Member
Posted 18 September 2015 - 12:36 AM
Jack
I suspect the broken bolts are stainless steel. You'll need to locate a Cobalt drill bit to drill them out. I would try Home Pro or any other similar center to find the drill bits. Make sure you use a variable speed drill preferably 3/8 - 1/2 chuck as this size drill will turn slower and be easier to control. 1/4" electric drills are more difficult to control. I hope this helps
Advanced Member
Posted 25 October 2015 - 11:18 AM
One more thing. Drill the bolts slowly. Stainless steel is hard material and you can easily burn out a good bit if you attempt to drill at high speed.
Thank you Mike... I am not certain what the bolts are made of... I tried to drill them with a steel drill bit but after about 15 minutes the bit overheated and I made no progress... it is possible they made of steel... too hard for aluminium I think...
Best regards
