Scratches on crank arms.

[woodbutchmaster]

Has anyone got advice on how to reduce surface scratches on drive side crank arm. I'm guessing that they were caused by the strap / buckle on "rat trap" pedals.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Time for a new bike I’m afraid

 

[Cycleops]

I guess you mean stop them from happening rather than eliminating them. I always thought they were caused by shoes but straps could also cause it but I don’t use them, so might be a case of going to clip ins

 

[fossyant]

Usually the shoe that rubs - especially if the marks are nearer the axel as that's where the heal often rubs. It's alot worse with non-clipped pedals, especially on flats - most 'flat' pedal users on MTB's have really badly scratched cranks.

You could use some heli tape.

 

[cougie uk]

Has anyone got advice on how to reduce surface scratches on drive side crank arm. I'm guessing that they were caused by the strap / buckle on "rat trap" pedals.

If it's the buckle then the straps are on wrong ?

I've never worried about them. Some shoes or overshoes rub occasionally.

As has been said you could do helicopter tape. Look up a YouTube to apply it properly.

 

[Nibor]

I havce sivze 11 wide feet even clipless mean i get scratched cranks

 

[CXRAndy]

Its a sign you're putting real effort into pedalling.








That or you walk like a duck🦆🦆🦶🦶

 

[Ajax Bay]

Try helicopter blade tape on the crank arms.
Permanent marker pen if black.
Remove strap/buckle. Get clipped in.
Why would you care, anyway? (Superficial) battle scars show you've fought (and won).

 

[ColinJ]

Get clipped in.

View attachment 647228

That is after 23 years of polishing (and scratching) by [the heel of] my shoe.

I pedal heel-in. Normally, the heels miss the cranks by a mm or two but from time to time they make contact.

My knees hurt if I adjust the cleats to stop it happening.

Why would you care, anyway? (Superficial) battle scars show you've fought (and won).

 

[youngoldbloke]

If scratches are light a pedal washer could help. Crank arm protection patches are also available.

 

[MichaelW2]

The problem is the black paint which wears off to create an unsightly appearance. Stick to unpainted finish and the wear marks are just a bit shinier than the rest.
On my black crank, wear marks are just a sign that I use it a lot.

 

[woodbutchmaster]

I guess you mean stop them from happening rather than eliminating them. I always thought they were caused by shoes but straps could also cause it but I don’t use them, so might be a case of going to clip ins

Yes l use clip ins , this is a starfish crankset l just bought and want to tidy it up a bit !

 

[Cycleops]

Ah, okay. Aluminium alloy is a soft metal so you should be able to polish them out if not too deep. If you can get access to a polishing wheel and use a compound that should work. Deeper scratches could taken out with fine grade wet/dry and then with the whee.

 

[Ian H]

As has been said, the buckles should be on the outside, not near the crank. If the straps tend to slip round you can give them a double-twist where they are threaded through the pedal.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Crank arms get scuffed - no point in fretting over it imo.