Crankset Removal Tips

[wesfoster]

So my 5(?) year old £20 eBay chainset is finally being replaced. Non-driveside crank came off fine, but the drives side just will not budge.
the threads are made of cheese, and I might have gone in a little hard. I've tried the hitting it with things, and I've also tried the riding it with the bolt slightly loose, but neither to any avail. Does anyone have anything else that might do the job? It's just a standard square taper crankset/bb.

I feel like this is going to be a saw it off job when I can next get into a workshop, but that might not be for a while at the minute.

 

[Sharky]

Are you using a crank removal tool?

 

[Slioch]

Can I assume you're using one of these gizmos - a crank extractor tool?

Oops. Sharky beat me to it

 

[wesfoster]

Are you using a crank removal tool?

Yeah the threads completely stripped in the first go.

 

[wesfoster]

Can I assume you're using one of these gizmos - a crank extractor tool?

View attachment 515269


Oops. Sharky beat me to it

Yeah, have one of the Park Tools ones. I have read a few times that people think they're slightly undersized which possibly might affect it, but also it was a cheap crankset, which is more likely.

 

[Sharky]

Check that you haven't left a washer inside the crank. I know somebody who did!

 

[MichaelW2]

Heat?
Hammer Time,!
Put crank arm in vice. Lever off

I think there is some bikeshop tool that pushed instead of pulls, that might just be a crowbar.

 

[Slioch]

I stripped the thread in an old crankset doing the same. Eventually resorted to laying the bike on it's side supported around the bottom bracket area with blocks of wood, and bashing it with a large mallet. Pretty much destroyed the chainring in the process of getting it off.

I would not recommend this method for a decent bike.

 

[raleighnut]

Brass drift through the frame above the BB.

 

[Gunk]

I’ve managed to cut one off using a dremel, I used a bit of steel plate to protect the frame.

 

[wesfoster]

Heat?
Hammer Time,!
Put crank arm in vice. Lever off

I think there is some bikeshop tool that pushed instead of pulls, that might just be a crowbar.

Yeah I've heard rumours of this! And have also seen ones which retap the thread (only for very expensive cranks though, so they're rare).

Heat is the only thing I haven't tried yet. I live in a house share of all males so unfortunately no hairdryer between us. Has anyone got an alternative heat method?

I also don't have a vice until I can get back to work, and only have limited tools. Will heating do enough without a vice or is it just going to be futile?

I stripped the thread in an old crankset doing the same. Eventually resorted to laying the bike on it's side supported around the bottom bracket area with blocks of wood, and bashing it with a large mallet. Pretty much destroyed the chainring in the process of getting it off.

I would not recommend this method for a decent bike.

Hahah, not sure that the neighbours would appreciate this method down a small terraced street.

Based on what everyone is saying, I don't think I'm going to be getting this of at home, and I'll hacksaw it off when I'm back at work (and just replace the BB).

 

[Ajax Bay]

Select a crowbar/large screwdriver or other lever. Lay the bike right side up and pour a full kettle of boiling water slowly over (target the stripped thread 'hole'), and then lever for Britain (or a chosen home nation). Aluminium expands at twice the 'rate' of steel.

 

[Cycleops]

The guy in my local bike shop here had never seen a crank extractor tool until I gave him one. Put a wood or metal bar behind the crank near the axle and give it a heavy blow with a lump hammer, works every time.

 

[Gunk]

The guy in my local bike shop here had never seen a crank extractor tool until I gave him one. Put a wood or metal bar behind the crank near the axle and give it a heavy blow with a lump hammer, works every time.

That’s how I’ve recently been able to remove one with damaging the chainset, two hard taps on the spindle with a hammer and drift and off it popped.

By accident I found that a bath tap spanner makes the perfect tool when clamped in a vice. It’s also ideal for removing seized cups.