Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

How To Remove A Stuck Crank ?

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

How To Remove A Stuck Crank ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-30-20, 07:03 PM
  #1  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
How To Remove A Stuck Crank ?

This thing had been sitting outside for quite a while, obviously neglected so I rescued it from total destruction...


branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:06 PM
  #2  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
I was able to strip all of the components from the frame without too much effort, but the crank.........the crank would not submit to the extractor...


branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:09 PM
  #3  
Narhay
Senior Member
 
Narhay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 3,696
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 956 Post(s)
Liked 568 Times in 314 Posts
I'm assuming you undid the crank fixing bolt. You could try some heat as aluminum and steel expand at different rates. Barring that I've seen gear pullers used before.
Narhay is offline  
Likes For Narhay:
Old 05-30-20, 07:10 PM
  #4  
3alarmer 
Friendship is Magic
 
3alarmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984

Bikes: old ones

Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26406 Post(s)
Liked 10,374 Times in 7,203 Posts
...
...a couple of cycles of torch heating around the area that fits onto the spindle, followed each time with the addition of penetrating oil. Make sure when you pull the crank bolts you also get the washers out. then use a regular crank extractor of the proper size and threading. Make sure you screw the extractor threads all the way into the crank socket threads. Should come off easily after the heat and penetrant.

Cut the chain off with a bolt cutter.
3alarmer is offline  
Likes For 3alarmer:
Old 05-30-20, 07:10 PM
  #5  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
...being low-end and not having a matching non-drive-side arm, I decided to treat it as I would a rotted piece of lumber...


branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:11 PM
  #6  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
Originally Posted by Narhay
I'm assuming you undid the crank fixing bolt. You could try some heat as aluminum and steel expand at different rates. Barring that I've seen gear pullers used before.
Yes, the bolt was removed
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:12 PM
  #7  
3alarmer 
Friendship is Magic
 
3alarmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984

Bikes: old ones

Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26406 Post(s)
Liked 10,374 Times in 7,203 Posts
.
...destructive removal also works.
3alarmer is offline  
Likes For 3alarmer:
Old 05-30-20, 07:15 PM
  #8  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
branko_76 is offline  
Likes For branko_76:
Old 05-30-20, 07:17 PM
  #9  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
I was careful not to cut into the spindle, but as it turns out, the BB is a cheap Shimano sealed thing that does not turn very easily.
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:35 PM
  #10  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
Originally Posted by 3alarmer
.
...destructive removal also works.
yes...
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 07:58 PM
  #11  
juvela
Senior Member
 
juvela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,262
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3810 Post(s)
Liked 3,336 Times in 2,176 Posts
-----

slightly OT -

both ELDI and VAR produced pullers for cottered chainsets

here are photos of the ELDI version





the "Frankenstein electrodes" thread into the hole vacated by the cotter

the bolt on the tail is for levelling

-----
juvela is offline  
Likes For juvela:
Old 05-30-20, 08:15 PM
  #12  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
That's awesome !
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 08:23 PM
  #13  
Insidious C. 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PNW
Posts: 1,524

Bikes: One of everything and three of everything French

Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 463 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times in 213 Posts
Milwaukee universal remover tool.
__________________
I.C.
Insidious C. is offline  
Likes For Insidious C.:
Old 05-30-20, 08:42 PM
  #14  
zukahn1 
Senior Member
 
zukahn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,517

Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 1,761 Times in 634 Posts
[QUOTE=branko_76;21506635]...being low-end and not having a matching non-drive-side arm, I decided to treat it as I would a rotted piece of lumber...




For future note it would have been much more easy to go at this from the none drive side you would likely have got the crank off with out cutting. If you need to cut just no an the sawsalll type tool on bike metal it's just really danger and doesn't work good. I f you must cut use a a grind off with a quality blade.
zukahn1 is offline  
Likes For zukahn1:
Old 05-30-20, 08:58 PM
  #15  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
[QUOTE=zukahn1;21506766]
Originally Posted by branko_76
...being low-end and not having a matching non-drive-side arm, I decided to treat it as I would a rotted piece of lumber...


For future note it would have been much more easy to go at this from the none drive side you would likely have got the crank off with out cutting. If you need to cut just no an the sawsalll type tool on bike metal it's just really danger and doesn't work good. I f you must cut use a a grind off with a quality blade.
I'm sure you're right but there is already a dent in my index finger from years of using the Milwaukee Sawzall.......

Last edited by branko_76; 05-30-20 at 09:55 PM.
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 09:03 PM
  #16  
branko_76 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,749

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 702 Post(s)
Liked 672 Times in 420 Posts
branko_76 is offline  
Old 05-30-20, 09:47 PM
  #17  
thook
(rhymes with spook)
 
thook's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Winslow, AR
Posts: 2,788

Bikes: '83 univega gran turismo x2, '85 schwinn super le tour,'89 miyata triple cross, '91 GT tequesta, '90 yokota grizzly peak, '94 GT backwoods, '95'ish scott tampico, '98 bonty privateer, '93 mongoose crossway 625, '98 parkpre ariel, 2k'ish giant fcr3

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 919 Post(s)
Liked 745 Times in 546 Posts
fyi, there's also a spray can product called "freeze off" i've had a good results with from time to time. made by CRC available at o'reilly's, atleast
thook is offline  
Likes For thook:
Old 05-31-20, 02:04 AM
  #18  
bulgie 
blahblahblah chrome moly
 
bulgie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,986
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 2,567 Times in 1,072 Posts
Next time remember the option of taking the bolt out and then going for a ride. You may think I'm kidding but it's pretty effective. Apologies if this was mentioned and I missed it.
bulgie is offline  
Likes For bulgie:
Old 05-31-20, 04:00 AM
  #19  
oneclick 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,819
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,326 Times in 782 Posts
[QUOTE=zukahn1;21506766]
Originally Posted by branko_76
...being low-end and not having a matching non-drive-side arm, I decided to treat it as I would a rotted piece of lumber...

For future note it would have been much more easy to go at this from the none drive side you would likely have got the crank off with out cutting. If you need to cut just no an the sawsalll type tool on bike metal it's just really danger and doesn't work good. I f you must cut use a a grind off with a quality blade.
Two other ways, each saves the crank (perhaps...)

a) cut the axle between the crank and the BB shell.
b) remove the axle & crank & fixed cup entirely, then cut the fixed cup off. This requires a good open-ended spanner, force, care, and a cup that will come off; so it's only worth trying if the axle is worth it - and the cup is more bother to cut than the axle.

Then you can arrange matters to much more easily get the axle out - a big vice and big socket or bit of pipe (supporting the base of the crank) should do.
oneclick is offline  
Likes For oneclick:
Old 05-31-20, 04:39 AM
  #20  
blamester
Blamester
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Ireland
Posts: 1,045

Bikes: Peugeot teamline

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 264 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times in 101 Posts
Engineering 101 use the mildest means necessary. No left crank so that is the easiest way..
blamester is offline  
Likes For blamester:
Old 06-01-20, 11:08 AM
  #21  
dddd
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
 
dddd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,193

Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.

Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,295 Times in 865 Posts
If the crank puller isn't providing enough pull for a stubborn crank, just leave the tool in place, fully tensioned.

Then position the cranks horizontal and jump on the pedals. Reverse the cranks 180-degrees and repeat.

Then re-tension the puller, noting that it now screws in a little further. Repeat the above and the crank comes right off after just a few rounds.
Nothing damaged, and all of a few minutes effort.

I use a similar approach for when cotters don't yield (without bending!!!) to a cotter press. I leave the tool tensioned in place and usually use a torch heat cycle in lieu of jumping on the pedals. But I will have to try it some day without the torch since jumping on the pedals works so well on square-taper cranks so might similarly help crack loose a stubborn, precious, hardened OEM cotter.

Last edited by dddd; 06-01-20 at 11:14 AM.
dddd is offline  
Likes For dddd:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.