Sorry to admit it but thanks for posting the query and answers – I found that very interesting! I’ve had a car and mountainbike for years. I’ve never done anything with them in terms of fixing stuff. Having had a bike for almost 4 months I really feel I should be able to do more – probably as I hope to do bigger and longer rides in the future and want more knowledge (erm, thus the reason I frequent these forums!). I never even knew what half of these things were called (good old google images has sorted that out though) or that number on the bolt packets were pitches,. It has got me a bit worried about heading down to B&Q and replacing my snapped, overtightened SW Motech rack nut and bolt with the Zinc plated one….since erm, B&Q never had stainless ones.
(Hey you’re talking to someone who has been well pleased to be able put on panniers then change the screen, clutch lever (no cables on my bike!) and numberplate after a first spill !!)

I don’t want to hijack the thread, but when should you use (or not) loctite on bolts – is this the same as copaslip / copperslip or is one to keep them there, and the latter one to stop them seizing?

And is a waterproof grease the same as waterproof grease, or should I not have used copper grease to keep that thing my hydraulic brakes ‘piston’ thingy that sticks into my clutch lever greased – should I have used something else…..?

Not trying to hijack but I thought they were kinda related – keep the education coming!

It makes me take a bit more interest in the fasteners company my mate runs though! I would put a shameless plug but that’d probably go against forum rules.

Cheers