Non-motoring > What are these called ? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Runfer D'Hills Replies: 27
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 Mon 17 May 10 17:01 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
I have a bike rack on the roof of my car. Well used but serviceable. Some long forgotten anonymous make. Only problem is there are little knobs on it to tighten the arms of the racks on to the bikes. Circular plastic things which contain and conceal a nut which tightens on to a bolt. Sort of thing you get on lawnmower handlebars.

Anyway, thing is, they are so worn as to be spinning round without tightening the nuts very well now. I can get round it by doing away with them altogether and simply using a long socket on the exposed nuts but it's a bit of pain balancing the bikes on the rack while doing that.

Finally to my question, does anyone know what these things are called so I can start searching for replacements ? I've tried googling "little round nut tighteners" but it's taking me to places I never knew existed....

:-)
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 Mon 17 May 10 17:13 
 What are these called ? - Zero
what size are they? I have 4 knocking around from an old lawnmower handle. Butterfly type.
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 Mon 17 May 10 17:15 
 What are these called ? - Zero
the ones I have will hold a 13mm nut, with three wings
Last edited by: Zero on Mon 17 May 10 at 17:17
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 Mon 17 May 10 17:13 
 What are these called ? - Number_Cruncher
Any good?

www.wdsltd.co.uk/products/Machine-Parts/Plastic-Hand-Knobs/

I have no connection other than I use this company's products quite a bit, and they're OK.

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 Mon 17 May 10 17:22 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
"Thumb Nuts" brilliant thanks NC !

Haven't checked the size yet Zero but thanks.

I can progress from here !
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Mon 17 May 10 at 17:22
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 Mon 17 May 10 17:26 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
More knobs than you can shake a stick at Humph.
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 Mon 17 May 10 18:32 
 What are these called ? - Iffy
You might be able to get wing nuts which you could spin down as tight as the existing fixings.

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 Mon 17 May 10 19:18 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
Suitable M8 thumb nuts ordered from the company you recommended NC. Thanks very much !
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 Wed 19 May 10 11:56 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
Delighted to say my little round nut tighteners have just arrived and are already in situ. Quite cheered me up.

Thanks again NC.
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 Wed 19 May 10 12:06 
 What are these called ? - Number_Cruncher
Tip Top!
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 Wed 19 May 10 12:07 
 What are these called ? - WillDeBeest
Cheered me up too, chaps - well done! I wonder how many useful things we discard for want of an easily-replaced small part, if we only knew where to get one. Perhaps I'll look in to replacing the broken catch on the raisin dispenser of my Panasonic bread maker now.
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 Wed 19 May 10 12:27 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
That sounds like more of a challenge, but if you use your loaf and provided the part is in current production......
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Wed 19 May 10 at 12:28
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 Wed 19 May 10 12:28 
 What are these called ? - Zero
thats a crumb of comfort humph
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 Wed 19 May 10 16:35 
 What are these called ? - Iffy
If you rise to the challenge, there's no raisin why this knead cost too much dough.
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 Wed 19 May 10 17:07 
 What are these called ? - Mapmaker
What was wrong with Araldite?
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 Wed 19 May 10 17:09 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
All very well but I want to be able to remove the bikes from the rack....

:-)
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 Wed 19 May 10 18:50 
 What are these called ? - Iffy
The Golf my brother might buy has an optional bike roof rack with its own lifting arm, rather like the jib of a crane.
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:13 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
There are some fab bits of kit now for transporting bikes. It does make me chuckle though, although it is a bit mean to do so of course. One of the places we've used for years is Delamere forest where there are literally miles of forestry commission tracks and specialist mountain biking facilities. Especially on Sundays for some reason you get the families with a flashy bike rack on a 4x4, a veritable cornucopia of gear and expensive (clearly hardly used) bikes who puff and pant their way, red-faced and sweaty round one of the short courses before retiring to the cafe to re-stock their portly frames with cakes, ice-cream and other goodies.

Typically there is a father in the lead, head down pedalling like fury shouting instructions. A couple of bored kids, one of whom is usually crying at the indignity of forced physical activity and a fat mother bringing up the rear, saddle set too low, great hams of thighs poured into expensive lycra, a violently coloured helmet atop their moon face with its complexion of an enraged turkey struggling to keep up while failing miserably to get the hang of the 21 gears attached to the bike she clearly loathes and which has cost more than some people would pay for a family holiday.

You see them once, perhaps twice over a month and never see them again, but their clones return every week. Almost without fail.
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:15 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
Avoid that place then, as my svelting body would stand out.
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:22 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
I take it in my stride PU. One learns to live with admiration and accept it gracefully.
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:25 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
I felt my ribs without breathing in today - not nice.
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:26 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
Can't she cook then ?
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:32 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
She loves cars, likes tech, wants to learn to ride bikes, she's blonde and has an MX5 - can't have it all can I ?
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 Wed 19 May 10 19:33 
 What are these called ? - Alastairw
My son often mocks what I call my 'box of usefulness'. Basically it is a small tool box in which I store 'spare' screws and fixings from diy projects, flat pack furniture etc.

The mockery stopped when I found that an Ikea nut and bolt combo designed for holding units together was just the job to fix his scooter.

No home should be without a 'box of usefulness', imo.
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 Wed 19 May 10 20:29 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
Quite right Alastair. In fact there are also drawers of handiness, glove boxes of possibility and attics of re-usability.
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 Wed 19 May 10 20:29 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
....and shoe boxes of missed opportunities.
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 Wed 19 May 10 20:30 
 What are these called ? - Runfer D'Hills
Oh yes, plenty of those !
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 Wed 19 May 10 20:34 
 What are these called ? - R.P.
yes indeed.
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