What is a thread pitch gauge? Possibly the most underrated little tool. If you are doing any maintenance on your bike, you will invariably need to replace a lost, rounded-off, stripped or worn bolt.
No matter the reason, knowing the specs of that bolt is essential to sourcing a new one. Instead of trying to match it from the look, you know, that guy at Home Depot, comparing bolts ;-)
You can simply measure the thread portion with a calliper to get the diameter. 99% of the bikes use metric fasteners so that you will measure slightly under the nominal size. For example, an M10 bolt will be just under 10mm in diameter on your calliper. Sounds easy, right?
We have the thread pitch to consider. This is the spacing between each adjacent thread. Not so easy to measure. Typically noted as M10x1.25, where 1.25mm is the pitch.
We use a thread comb to discover the pitch, also known as a pitch gauge. It looks like a pocketknife, but the blades have saw-tooth edges that fit perfectly into the thread roots. We try different blades until we find an exact match and then read the size on the blade.
It's super easy to use and works on bolts, nuts or any fastener with a thread.
A must-have for your toolbox, it always comes in handy to source replacement bolts for your bike!
Thread Pitch Gauge
- Metric pitch sizes from 0.25 to 6.0mm
- Clear laser etched sizes
- Hardened and polished blades
