On Monday, August 19, 2019 at 12:09:30 AM UTC-4, AK wrote:
On Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 9:28:59 PM UTC-5, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 8/18/2019 10:11 PM, AK wrote:
On Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 8:25:40 PM UTC-5, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 18 Aug 2019 17:35:54 -0700 (PDT), AK
wrote:



The opening in the hex screw that holds the rear brake cable has become much looser than it used to be. What is the name of the part so I can order another one? (Hopefully they have some made of harder steel.)

https://imgur.com/a/JT76Qog

It is simply a clamp bolt and the question is whether it holds the
brake cable tightly when it is tightened, If it does than I shouldn't
worry about it.

As the bolt should be clamping the cable between a flange or washer on
the bolt and the brake arm itself. When it is tightened it shouldn't
move at all.

Your picture looks a bit strange, but maybe it is the perspective. See
https://sheldonbrown.com/canti-direct.htmlto
from a slightly different angle.
--

Cheers,

John B.

If that clamp bolt gets enlarged much more so my hex wrench slips, it will definitely be a big problem.

Are you positive you're using the correct size hex wrench? Some people
mistakenly grab a U.S. (inch) wrench and use it on metric screws that it
_almost_ fits.


--
- Frank Krygowski

The bike is a Huffy Nighthawk Model 56347. The manual does not specify whether it uses American or metric sizes.

I have just a set of American hex wrenches but could get a set of metric wrenches and see if one of them fits the clamp bolt better.

Andy

Therein probably lies your problem with the bolt as Frank suggested. Even though Huffy might be an American name most likely those V-brake caliper bolts are metric not U.S. size. What I recommend is taking the bike to a bike shop and get them to give you another bolt and possibly the right size Hex wrench to fit it. You are much more likely to have the shop do that if you take the bike in on an off-peak time when they're not very busy.

Cheers