Used Cranks
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Used Cranks
I have avoided used cranks after a bonehead move on my part rounded out a non drive side arm. That said, have folks done ok with used cranks in general? Seems like every on-off cycle raises risk of a bad seat on the square taper.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
I wouldn’t. Square taper cranks are one of these things where are too many opportunities to screw things up, either inadequate torquing when installing, the whole “grease vs no grease” debate, stripping the threads when extracting. Some things are foolproof - square taper brands are not. I’ll buy new and any subsequent damage is on me.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,832
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2336 Post(s)
Liked 2,808 Times
in
1,534 Posts
I have had good results with used cranks, but i have sourced them from the C&V for sale section.
If you are looking for say Dura Ace 7400 used is pretty much you only option.
If you can get new cranks that work for what you need, go for it, otherwise consider the source and if you buy a used bike your are buying used everything
If you are looking for say Dura Ace 7400 used is pretty much you only option.
If you can get new cranks that work for what you need, go for it, otherwise consider the source and if you buy a used bike your are buying used everything
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#4
(rhymes with spook)
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
i've never had much of a problem with used cranks. and, usually they've come with complete bikes. but, then i also only have one bike that's not vintage.
i'd buy a used crank (individually), modern or not, in a heart beat so long as i know exactly what i'm getting. i do know what to look for, though. ask questions....get pics
i'd buy a used crank (individually), modern or not, in a heart beat so long as i know exactly what i'm getting. i do know what to look for, though. ask questions....get pics
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Being forever doomed to,Sugino XCD cranks is not the worst thing, save for price increses the last couple years.
Likes For etherhuffer:
#6
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,983
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26381 Post(s)
Liked 10,357 Times
in
7,194 Posts
Likes For 3alarmer:
#7
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,983
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26381 Post(s)
Liked 10,357 Times
in
7,194 Posts
^^^
...having said that, I would not buy one sight unseen, like on ebay.
...having said that, I would not buy one sight unseen, like on ebay.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1607 Post(s)
Liked 2,213 Times
in
1,103 Posts
Multiple cranks, all good.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#10
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,627
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3870 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,577 Posts
All of my bikes have had "used cranks" on them until I bought my first brand-new crank last year. Had no idea I was living on the edge!
Likes For ThermionicScott:
#11
Long time part timer
good luck...in person
I have had good luck with used cranks although mine have come from in-person purchases at swaps and co-ops.
Sometimes at the co-ops crank sets are in varying levels of completeness and/or usefulness so I have had to cobble a set together - say from combining two sets or digging through the chainring bin.
Once at the co-op I was fortunate enough to find a single NDS crank arm with an exact brand and size match for one I needed to replace due to a "flared" square-tapered hole (used bike purchase). It was a different color...but I though it added character
Sometimes at the co-ops crank sets are in varying levels of completeness and/or usefulness so I have had to cobble a set together - say from combining two sets or digging through the chainring bin.
Once at the co-op I was fortunate enough to find a single NDS crank arm with an exact brand and size match for one I needed to replace due to a "flared" square-tapered hole (used bike purchase). It was a different color...but I though it added character
#12
(rhymes with spook)
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
Likes For thook:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,800
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,163 Times
in
1,322 Posts
I’ve bought a number of used square taper cranks off eBay without any problems. I am pretty selective and if the pics are not adequate, I’ll pass. But so far so good.
John
John
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Eastern Poland
Posts: 743
Bikes: Romet Jubilat x 4, Wigry x 1, Turing x 1
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 194 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
151 Posts
I inspect everything before installing, after a good clean. If there were anything wrong with them then you would expect some marks or the threads might not feel alright.
#15
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,341
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6200 Post(s)
Liked 4,200 Times
in
2,357 Posts
I have dozens of them. Never had a problem. I haven’t, however, used square taper on anything since the late 90s.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,385
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1557 Post(s)
Liked 1,732 Times
in
972 Posts
Never had any issue with any used cranks, aside from issues I created for myself
Any problem with square taper cranks should be obvious just by looking at it. In general I buy used everything. Except expendables like tires, tubes, cables, wraps.
Any problem with square taper cranks should be obvious just by looking at it. In general I buy used everything. Except expendables like tires, tubes, cables, wraps.