How to Determine What Fastener Type Is Used on a Rola Bike Rack to Change Straps

Question:

We have a Rola four bike carrier that attaches to our hitch. After lots of good use, some of the straps broke, including two of the smaller straps on the anti-sway device. We ordered replacement parts to simply replace them all to extend the use of the trailer. However, we have been unable to take the old straps off and put the new ones on due to a screw at the end of the arm on both sides that evidently keeps the cradles and anti-sway devices from moving forward and falling off the end. As far as we can tell, we need to remove these screws, and then unscrew the cradles, slide them off, and replace straps and anti-sway cradles back on the arm in the same order. Yet we cannot find a compatible tool to get the end screw off. We have used hex keys and different bits, but none seem to be compatible to allow us to move it. Has anyone encountered this problem? It is a hexagon shape, but fits nothing in our sets. This seems to be all that is standing between us and success. Is there something we are missing?

asked by: Rachel

Expert Reply:

Without knowing what 4 bike Rola Bike Rack you have it is hard for me to say for certain what fastener type is used to hold the caps on the end of the arms of your rack, but it sounds like a Torx head bolt. I went out and checked out the Rola TX-104 part # 59401 and it used a standard Philips head screw.

There are a few variants of the Torx head bolts though. Because of that I attached a picture that shows all of the different styles of bolt heads for you to check out and compare to your bike rack.

expert reply by: Jameson C