Crank Bolts

[Thomk]

After much head scratching I seem to have fixed a creaking rattling bike by loosening the non drive side crank bolts a bit. This seems counter intuitive to me, is it a known issue? (I hope this is my last creaky problem for a bit!).

 

[ianrauk]

they can creak.
Best thing to do is take them off, dab a little grease on the threads then tighten them up again.

 

[Thomk]

they can creak.
Best thing to do is take them off, dab a little grease on the threads then tighten them up again.

I did that initially but it was only when I loosened them quite a bit that the creaking stopped. I'm just a bit worried that they are too losse now (although mercifully quiet).

 

[lpretro1]

as ianrauk says - take em off, grease flats and refit - tight. If you don't they will get looser and looser and then come off and likely damage the crankset in doing so!

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

+1 ^

Loose cranks will knacker the tapers of both the cranks and the bottom bracket.