bblair

It's time. From what I can tell, it is a simple matter of loosening the bolts and sliding them off. Correct? I don't have the tools to remove the whole crankset.

Ultegra version 6800, I think.

FWIW, I think I rode 20 years on my old Campy Record cranks and they still look great.

sweeks

You need a hex key (5mm) and a wrench for the nuts:

Park Tools also makes one of these. Not expensive.

CliffordK

I don't think that tool is needed for the newer cranksets.

nomadmax 

Correct. You don't, just a torx.

sweeks

Sorry; I have an older Ultegra crankset and know nothing of these newer cranksets. My bad.

HillRider

Note that recent chainrings have a specific orientation to take advantage of the shaped teeths shifting aids. The big ring orientation is obvious since the chainstop pin faces out and opposite the crank arm. Shimano inner chainrings have a small triangle engraved on the inner facing side and it is installed 180º from the crank arm.

smd4

Even with older cranks the tool isn’t absolutely necessary, but it’s nice to have, and as mentioned, isn’t expensive—like $5 or $10 bucks.

bblair

Thanks everyone.
It is pretty obvious where the hex wrench fits, but not the special tool. Since they are so cheap, probably best to just buy one and figure it out when the time comes.

BTinNYC 

I'm pretty sure that tool does nothing for a 6800 crankset, and the chainring bolts require a torx T-30 driver. The tool is needed for older bolts.

smd4

The left end of the tool pictured above fits into the bolt on the back of the chainring, where there are two little slots for the tool to engage in. The central pin just helps to center the tool in the chainring bolt. You use it to keep the inside bolt from moving/turning while you turn the Allen wrench from the front.

Usually--but not always--the friction from behind holds the inside bolt in place, both when loosening it and when tightening (sometimes even finger pressure on the back of the bolt can keep it from moving). It's when the bolt turns at the same time as you turn the Allen bolt that you need the tool.

The two pins on the right-hand part of the tool are used to remove crank dust caps on older models.

bblair

A Torx and not a regular hex Allen wrench? I hate when I have to buy a tool to use for 5 minutes, then again in 5 years when I am sure to have lost it.

shelbyfv

You need to be sure what crank you have, then scroll to the bottom for chainring replacement. Shimano

BTinNYC 

Just buy the driver, then you can lose it right away and not worry about where it went.

Crankycrank

Ha ha, me too. I will say that Torx head fasteners are getting more and more popular all the time being used in everything. I just repaired a vacuum cleaner with Torx, also washing machine and dryer, cell phones, exhaust header pipes on my motorcycle, etc,. etc., so not a one-use tool anymore.