[CR]Re:Nuts and Bolts with French Threads

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

In-Reply-To: <317136.97232.qm@web54402.mail.yahoo.com>
References: <317136.97232.qm@web54402.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:22:40 -0800
To: <festiva90lx@yahoo.com>
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: [CR]Re:Nuts and Bolts with French Threads
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

>Thanks for the information on the thread dimensions, that explains
>why the hardware store did not have the right size metric screws.
>I wonder if hardware stores in France stock them.

The old sizes are not used in France any more, either. When you deal with older French bikes, you get in the habit of machining your own screws. Especially when the makers made their own anyhow, with special head shapes to make inferior quality replacement bolts obvious at the first glance.

Getting taps in the old sizes can be a nightmare. If it's for aluminum, you can make your own, but for steel, the hardening, etc. is a bit tricky. I suspect the taps must be available in France - perhaps I should invest in a set next time I am over there.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com