So my left frame slider is pretty much a permanent fixture of my bike as far as I can tell. I tried to take it out the other day, and it wouldn't budge. I used an old pipe to get leverage, and believe me when I say I need to use all my strength to make this the bolt turn. So much so that I have to put the bike in gear, otherwise I am pulling it forward. It went in just fine, so I'm pretty sure I didn't crossthread it. The only thing I can think of is maybe pressure on the slider bent the bolt. I have no clue what to do here...

 

ummmm

sprayed wd-40 on it??

 

No...I suspect it will help, but doubt it will fix it. Will try it though.

 

and what brand of sliders??? i'm just familar with vortex.

 

Motovation. Right side is fine. Left side is F***ed

 

I assume it's a hex head bolt running down the center of the slider? First thing go to autozone and get some PB Blaster. I work in the automotive field and this stuff is far superior to any other lubricant out there. It's great for helping remove rusted or seized bolts. Let it soak for maybe 10 or 15 minutes. Then take your socket in the head of the bolt and strike it with a two or three pound hammer a few times. All your trying to do is stretch the threads of the bolt a little and break up any seized material so don't go crazy. After it's removed take a thread tap to the hole and clean it up a little before you try to reinstall a new one. If by some chance you strip the head of the bolt your best bet is to drill a pilot hole in the bolt and get a high quality screw extractor or some left threaded drill bits. If all that fails then your gonna be drilling for a while : /.

Mike

 

Very helpful info Mike. I will give that a shot today after work. Hey, you wouldn't happen to be from Pittsburgh, would you? I went to high school with a Mike Barone.

 

Nope, I grew up in Ocean City, New Jersey : ). Hope everything works out, getting the bolt out without damaging the slider at all would be nice.

Mike

 

Following your advice and even borrowed my neighbors impact driver. It wasn't enough, and I had to use a breaker bar to get it started...once I got it far enough, the impact driver finished the job. Pulled out a good bit of aluminum with it, but I didn't have any other option. Now I have to work on re-threading it, but I got all winter to do that.

 

don't you just hate pittsburgh