Weird Astablula crank problem
#1
Velocommuter Commando
Thread Starter
Weird Astablula crank problem
I have a cruiser that when the cranks are cranked backwards they feel tight; however, they spin fine in the forward direction. Is this normal for Ashtabula cranks? What should I be looking at so that the crank spins freely in either direction?
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,371
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2482 Post(s)
Liked 2,952 Times
in
1,677 Posts
I'd begin by determining whether the problem is in the bottom bracket or elsewhere.
Drop the chain off the chainring. If the problem goes away, investigate the rear hub next.
If the problem persists, disassemble the bottom bracket (look for YouTube videos for guidance) and look for problems there (scored bearing races, damaged or missing bearings or bearing retainers).
Drop the chain off the chainring. If the problem goes away, investigate the rear hub next.
If the problem persists, disassemble the bottom bracket (look for YouTube videos for guidance) and look for problems there (scored bearing races, damaged or missing bearings or bearing retainers).
Likes For Trakhak:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Do you plan to spend a lot of time turning your cranks backwards for some reason? Never Fix A Running Piece.
#4
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,984
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6191 Post(s)
Liked 4,807 Times
in
3,316 Posts
Yeah, drop the chain. It's been so long since I've seen a one-piece crank I can't remember how the adjustments work on them. Watch the stuff on the left side of the crank as you turn it in one direction then the other. Make certain the left cone under the lock nut is always moving the same as everything else. If it is in the crank and it's not because it is rusted up, falling apart inside and jamming itself, then a loose lock nut allowing the cone race to turn is probably about all it can be.
Just to be snarky.... it's not a coaster brake bike is it?
Just to be snarky.... it's not a coaster brake bike is it?
Likes For Iride01:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Forge: Birthplace of Freedom
Posts: 1,299
Bikes: Novara Safari, CAAD9, WABI Classic, WABI Thunder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 365 Post(s)
Liked 457 Times
in
240 Posts
That was my first thought, Ashtabula & Cruiser. Though the OP has been around since 2007 so I figured he would know...
__________________
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
#6
Velocommuter Commando
Thread Starter
It's my '80s Schwinn cruiser.
#7
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,984
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6191 Post(s)
Liked 4,807 Times
in
3,316 Posts
Likes For Iride01:
#8
Really Old Senior Member
#9
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2744 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
What markings are on the rear hub?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,071
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4199 Post(s)
Liked 3,851 Times
in
2,301 Posts
I find it rather unhelpful when a poster states the bike brand/model with either no link to specs of no listing of specs, especially in this OP's case when he has been asked directly about a spec. Andy (who feels it's the asker's job to provide data on their bike, not the reader's job to search the data out)
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
Likes For Andrew R Stewart:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,656
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1608 Post(s)
Liked 2,587 Times
in
1,223 Posts
Pic assist...
Check the alignment on your derailleur.
Check the alignment on your derailleur.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
I'm going to regret making a guess without seeing a pic, but here goes. Maybe one of the bearing cones is loose and it's threading in and out upon being rotated. In any event an Ashtabula crank is so easy to service that it shouldn't be feared. Park Tool website has a good tutorial.
#14
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,835
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 802 Post(s)
Liked 703 Times
in
376 Posts
I'm going to regret making a guess without seeing a pic, but here goes. Maybe one of the bearing cones is loose and it's threading in and out upon being rotated. In any event an Ashtabula crank is so easy to service that it shouldn't be feared. Park Tool website has a good tutorial.
If it were my bike I'd take the crank apart and clean and regrease the bearings at very least.
Pointer to the Park Tool article: https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...vice-one-piece Kudos to Park Tool for using a Schwinn Super Sport as their example over a common-as-cockroaches Varsity.
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
Agreed. The cone and locknut on the left side of an Ashtabula crank are left-hand threaded. If the locknut is loose and the bearings have a bunch of drag they could tighten up when spun backwards.
If it were my bike I'd take the crank apart and clean and regrease the bearings at very least.
Pointer to the Park Tool article: https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...vice-one-piece Kudos to Park Tool for using a Schwinn Super Sport as their example over a common-as-cockroaches Varsity.
If it were my bike I'd take the crank apart and clean and regrease the bearings at very least.
Pointer to the Park Tool article: https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...vice-one-piece Kudos to Park Tool for using a Schwinn Super Sport as their example over a common-as-cockroaches Varsity.
My winter beater is a '72 Varsity, but I appreciate the sentiment. I got the frame from a flipper who had too many frames, and it was quite worn and weathered, but the bearings are still in great shape.
#16
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,835
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 802 Post(s)
Liked 703 Times
in
376 Posts
That's a great tutorial. I like the fact that they tell you not to expect a perfect bearing. My only minor quibble is that you don't need that big pin spanner, as the cup will usually yield to being pushed with a screwdriver. We always rebuilt our cranks with just a crescent wrench.
My winter beater is a '72 Varsity, but I appreciate the sentiment. I got the frame from a flipper who had too many frames, and it was quite worn and weathered, but the bearings are still in great shape.
My winter beater is a '72 Varsity, but I appreciate the sentiment. I got the frame from a flipper who had too many frames, and it was quite worn and weathered, but the bearings are still in great shape.
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Last edited by Jeff Wills; 10-30-20 at 11:07 PM.
Likes For Jeff Wills:
#17
Velocommuter Commando
Thread Starter
No this was originally a 5 speed and I wouldn't yank anyone's chain. I did sort of figure part of it out. The drive side bearings had shed themselves into the bottom bracket shell. When the cranks backpedaled it allowed the adjusters to tighten up.
#18
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,984
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6191 Post(s)
Liked 4,807 Times
in
3,316 Posts
Glad you got it figured out.