Shimano 105 disk brake lever unavailable

[Redrhino]

Aarrgh - the pain of hydraulic brakes.
I have been servicing MTB hydraulic disk brakes for years without problem. But my Shimano 105 hydraulic brakes on my drop handlebar road bike are so tricky to set up.
I have tried to remove all the air over and over. The cap tightens with a 2.5mm allen key. The metal insert for bleeding tightens with a 9mm spanner. I overtightened the metal insert and stripped the thread in the plastic body of the fluid reservoir. This means replacing the right hand lever (it could have been the left but it appears the whole world is damaging the right lever same as me).
And everyone is out of stock: SJS Cycles, Condor Cycles, Chain Reaction, Merlin cycles, Wiggle etc etc - everyone visible to an online search is out of stock. There are very a few left hand levers but zero right hand levers.
The part is: https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/ ... 020-R.html
It also costs £280 but I have gone beyond denial, anger and bargaining. I just need a lever or buy the whole group set.

Anyone have a solution? Anyone to share my pain?

[philvantwo]

Deporvillage.net
Try these people!

[audaxjk]

Check eBay UK, there are a pair available in good looking condition from 2 sellers for £210 and £250. At least you also get a spare L shifter or sell that on and recoup some of your costs.

[Paulatic]

Heli Coil kit will be cheaper. Supposed to work in plastic but I’ve no experience.

[Redrhino]

Thanks for the comments - deporvillage only had the left hand lever not right hand lever. But the website looks good and I had never heard of them before - thank you.

Ebay - my best result for things available now was an Ultegra right hand lever + caliper for £330. That might be my best thing to buy.

However, helicoil - I have never heard of that, but my friend lent me his complete set!
I'm going in! Wish me luck.

[cycleruk]

A drawback with a helicoil could be possible leaking of the fluid. It may need some sort of sealing but I've no idea of how.
I just did a Google and various options came up for new shifters but whether they would suit again I wouldn't know.

[Redrhino]

The conclusion to this episode is that I did manage to get an M7 helicoil kit and re-create the thread.
However, as I was considering the quality of the job, was it good enough etc. I just thought: "why am I even considering a compromise of the front brake?"
I live in a particularly hilly area. If that front brake fails I could die.
So I did source an Ultegra front right lever off eBay and that is what I have fitted.

[audaxjk]

Glad you got a solution, probably a wise idea to replace it.

I have a pair of R7020s and have read more than once on this and other forums of damage caused by over tightening the bleed screw or funnel, so I’m very gentle/cautious with them. Shimano’s manual quotes 0.5-0.7 NM torque for the bleed screw which isn’t a lot. The natural inclination is to do it up tight to prevent fluid leakage! It is strange that such a high tech and expensive piece of kit can be so vulnerable to damage in this way.