Mudguard Fitting Woes - Eyelet Tapping?

I've ordered some VO mudguards from www.freshtripe.co.uk. They're lush.

Predictably fitting has been a bitch. Firstly my chainstay bridge is too far from the mudguard, I might try to rig up one of these http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-thing.html with a p-clamp, but the set contains no bolts for attaching to the chain stay bridge. Is this because a brake mount with fender stays is enough to hold the mudguard in place?

That's not even the half of it though. My frame has some powder coat in the mudguard eyelet sockets, and I've seared a bolt off in one of the rear eyelets. I've gone through about 4 drill bits already, and it's still not out. I know I need to get some "easy outs", or left threaded bits, but have not been able to source any the right size.

Finally it looks like I will need to re-tap the eyelet threads - has anyone had to do this before? Tools or advice would be much appreciated!

I reckon you need to visit a reputable bicycle repairer, mate! The tapping thing is all about tools ... and ditto getting the sheared off bolt. What is an 'easy out'? I guess a left threaded bit is specially for going easy on tough steel drilling jobs? I've never heard of these.

As for the distance between the chainstay bridge and where you want the mudguard to end, You might be able to try to fashion an alternative to what you refer to a the P clip, or somehow rebend it? If you reverse it, so the open side faces upwards, you can bend them right outwards, to take up the gap ... It's hard to describe but if you;re interested I can show you how I got 'round this with my path frame, I don;t have a photo of that detail but i could take one. It's pretty simple.

Or, you could try to make a kind of bolt/spacer arrangement, and then attatch the clip to that, rather than direcly to the mudguard... it's be cool if the spacers were rubber or plastic to stop rattles. EDIT ooh just looked at the Spring Thing ... cool idea.

Easy Out is a screw/bolt extractor, check Screwfix.

What size bolt is it as I have a some bits and pieces for redoing threads but I'd have to look for them.

Tapping out small threads is easy and a set of taps is a useful set of tools to have.

Thanks, for your help guys.

@Skully, yes I might have to admit defeat soon! I've been working on this bike project for a long while though and have tried to do everything myself - so I am reluctant to cave in at this last hurdle. Yes the "spring thing" looks like a neat soltuion. The thing that left me uncertain was that the kit didn't contain any form of attachment to the chainstay bridge, I assume this is because there are so many variations though. I think I get you on the bending it to fit, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I think eyelet threads are 5mm (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/taps.html) I'll try and look into getting some taps for this if I can't borrow any. Hopefully there shouldn't be too much tapping to do, there's just some powder coat around the ends.

@diable - Thanks I'll check screwfix

Hey!!

I have a tap and die set upto 10 mm...

you are free to borrow it as long as it is returned ...

Pm me

I also need an italian bottom bracket tap to clean up my threads , does anyone know one that has one?

Are there any tap and die sets people recommend? In particular for mudguard eyelets...

Never understood why people bother re-tapping mudguard eyes.

Longer bolt + nylock nut is easier and works better (doesn't rattle loose).

Never understood why people bother re-tapping mudguard eyes.

Longer bolt + nylock nut is easier and works better (doesn't rattle loose).

Normally I'd do that, but the threads seem to seize up a little way in, I'm assuming rusted? Looks rusted...

Guess I could use a smaller bolt and nut, that would be sensible.

Are there any tap and die sets people recommend? In particular for mudguard eyelets...

Just just need the tap. M5 usually.