this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2025
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Bike Repair Tips and Tricks

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The hex nuts on the wheel axles of my bicycle are too big for a 5mm Allen key and too small for a 6mm one. What’s the name/size/something of one that would fit? I’ve been googling but to no avail. I know it exists because the shop I got it from had one (but they didn’t know what it was called either or where to buy one from).

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[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Could it be a imperial bolt and you need to use a 3/16 because imperial to metric doesn't match up exactly?

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 4 points 2 weeks ago

I think between your comment and everyone else saying to try a 5.5, this is most likely it. Only other idea is that the holes are wallered out, but a slightly larger key and a hammer should fix that.

[–] colourlessidea@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Ooh good info. That might be it!

Edit: is that in inches? If yes I guess that’s less than 5mm right? But maybe the next size up is in between 5 and 6

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Somewhere between 3/16th inch and 1/4 inch.