cracked crank

[raindog]

Anyone got an opinion on this?
I've found a crack in the top of one of my cranks running from the inside at the top of the square hole and along the top. Am I being a big girl's blouse not wanting to ride with it? Looks to me as if sooner or later it's going to fail, and when it does it could be quite nasty. It's Campag Mirage.
(click on thumbnail to see bigger image)

 

[Gerry Attrick]

It's a well-documented failure of some square taper cranks. It is usually due to overtightening of the crank securing bolt.

Do not ride it under any circumstances. Change it.

One reference: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/installing-cranks.html

 

[CAADHEAD]

Are you using the arms on a campag bottom bracket? I've seen this happen when people try to fit Campag arms to JIS taper bottom brackets like Shimano, trying to get the arms far enough on the axle as the extra taper width prevents it so they are overtightened and crack as pictured.

 

[biggs682]

nasty

 

[e-rider]

I've had two cranks snap and I crashed on both occasions - almost got hit by a car during one crash - CHANGE IT NOW!

 

[raindog]

Thanks guys, it's a no brainer really, I suppose I just wanted a second opinion.
What's odd is that it was an lbs that torqued them up when I built the bike up 18 months ago and they haven't been touched since. And yes CAADHEAD, it's a campag BB. Oh well, a left hand crank on it's own is going to take some finding, and I don't want to buy a whole chainset as the right side is in good nick.

 

[mickle]

I'd try warrantying them. What is there to lose?

 

[accountantpete]

Thanks guys, it's a no brainer really, I suppose I just wanted a second opinion.
What's odd is that it was an lbs that torqued them up when I built the bike up 18 months ago and they haven't been touched since. And yes CAADHEAD, it's a campag BB. Oh well, a left hand crank on it's own is going to take some finding, and I don't want to buy a whole chainset as the right side is in good nick.

I have a 172.5 one hanging around - will cost you the postage whatever that is.Also got the other side if you want that as well.

 

[ColinJ]

It should never be ridden again. The potential painful or even lethal consequences of a catastrophic crank failure are pretty obvious.

The other thing is - have you ever ridden far one-legged? It's very tiring if you haven't trained for it! I broke a crank 6 miles from home and had to ride back with the broken crank in my pocket (to get the pedal off when I got back to my tools).

Fortunately I was just tootling along sitting down when the crank broke, but a few minutes earlier I'd been out of the saddle and riding fast in traffic!

 

[02GF74]

I've had two cranks snap and I crashed on both occasions - almost got hit by a car during one crash - CHANGE IT NOW!

ouch. I've had the pressed in chain rings separate from the crank - Raleigh chainset from hell - next thing I knew was when I was licking bits of tarmac from my knee.

bin it or use a club for aggressive dogs.

 

[raindog]

thanks for the replies everyone

accountantpete, I've PMed you

 

[User6179]

It should never be ridden again. The potential painful or even lethal consequences of a catastrophic crank failure are pretty obvious.

The other thing is - have you ever ridden far one-legged? It's very tiring if you haven't trained for it! I broke a crank 6 miles from home and had to ride back with the broken crank in my pocket (to get the pedal off when I got back to my tools).

Fortunately I was just tootling along sitting down when the crank broke, but a few minutes earlier I'd been out of the saddle and riding fast in traffic!

I manage to cycle over 30 miles with a snapped crank(walked about 3 mile of uphill) and my leg was sore for a week after it .

When i got home i googled the part(ritchey) to get a new one and found a recall on a similiar model because of a design flaw,luckily i was going uphill at time of the failure and not in traffic.

Now i always check my cranks for flex as this can be the first sign of a failure.

eddy

 

[ColinJ]

I manage to cycle over 30 miles with a snapped crank(walked about 3 mile of uphill) and my leg was sore for a week after it .

Yikes, 6 was bad enough!

 

[heretic]

Anyone who ever rode with TA Cyclotouriste cranks will know what it's like to squash your wedding tackle on the crossbar. (Except they used to snap across the pedal threads). Bin it.

 

[Broadside]

I'm glad I read this thread, as I have to admit that I probably would have continued riding with a crank like that until it broke. On reading the replies I have changed my mind, so if it ever happens to me I will be replacing the crank pronto!