Pcampeau

I recently traded a $20 bill for a small box of vintage bicycle related fiddly bits. Inside it were several useful pieces: some Simplex SLJ jockey wheels, a few seat post binder bolts including Campy, Sugino, and others; some Suntour hardware, clamp on Shimano and Zeus cable guides, some chainring bolts and lots of other stuff. One item I’m curious about is this crank bolt socket. It has very thin walls. Out of curiosity I removed the dust cap on a Campagnolo crankset just to compare the fit. The tool fit in the hole perfectly but there is a little wiggle room around the bolt head. I’m guessing this tool is probably 16mm? Definitely larger than 15mm. Zeus perhaps? I really don’t know.

I’m thinking there are likely some people here who have seen this one before. Your input is appreciated.

machinist42

Prongs remove dust cap.

(I was fortunate to find one with the crossbar.)

Pcampeau

Thanks machinist42

oneclick 

The socket fits both the fixing screw and the similarly-small extractor screw; they are good travel-kit tools.

juvela

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Viva Verot!

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Pcampeau -

the socket also fits Zeus crank fixing bolts
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oneclick 

Jobst disagrees with the re-tighten advice.

JohnDThompson 

Yes, Stronglight, for 16mm crank bolts. It would have come with a tommy-bar and proprietary 23.35mm extractor tool. Bonus if you can find those!

Chuck M 

I found it interesting that the Stronglight document says to use Vaseline on the threads. I always use a small amount of whatever grease is in arm's reach and then have to get in between the crank arm and bottom bracket to clean what squeezes out. The excess Vaseline would still need cleaning to not attract dirt, but it would probably be easier to do.

malcala622

ThermionicScott 

He did, anyway. Personally, I'd take the remote possibility of premature crank taper wear over having a crank fall off during a race or other important ride every time.

oneclick 

His issue was cracking, not premature taper wear.

"Falling off" can be forestalled with a dustcap, and a loose crank is obvious before it does; while a crack may first be noticed when the crank separates from the rest of the bicycle.

ThermionicScott 

Yeah, I've read his posts too. I agree that we shouldn't obsessively re-tighten our cranks all the time, but I'm not convinced that dustcaps will save the day if the bolt has completely loosened and starts to fall out, either. I'll keep checking the bolt torque before tours and such -- you don't have to go up to full torque each time.

And we should be checking our cranks for cracks regardless.