Stripped thread

[lpretro1]

Sounds like you didn't ensure the puller was fully home on the threads before you tried to remove the crank. Sometimes you need to screw the puller in more using a sapnner to ensure it is as fully home as it will go. That way when you wellie down on a tight crank it won't damage the threads

 

[STEPHAN DAVIS]

Thanks for your advice but i promise i made sure it was all very tight and secure. Its a very old raleigh so maybe i should've given it a little WD40 before hand?

 

[RWright]

Thanks for your advice but i promise i made sure it was all very tight and secure. Its a very old raleigh so maybe i should've given it a little WD40 before hand?

Giving it a shot of WD 40 and letting it sit overnight won't hurt.

 

[HovR]

Thanks for your advice but i promise i made sure it was all very tight and secure. Its a very old raleigh so maybe i should've given it a little WD40 before hand?

I found in my last older bike I built up that there was a washer between the bolt and the crank to stop the steel bolt damaging the alu crank when tightening it up. Only problem was that the washer was the exact same size/dimensions as the hole in the crank, so was completely unnoticeable.

I screwed in the crank puller, thought "this hasn't gone in very far, oh well - It's as far as it can go!" and promptly removed half the threads in the crank. Thankfully the remaining threads are enough to remove the crank with, but the moral of the story is to always check for a sneaky washer after removing the bolt!

Secondly, is the bike ride-able? I'm willing to bet that if you unscrew the bolt and cycle it around the block a few times you'll feel it start getting loose. Cycle around the block a few more times and it'll fall right off. Don't go too far though or you'll be stranded!

 

[Cyclist33]

The crank puller is the only thing thats come out of this unscathed unlike the crank.

Dude, stop fecking around with your bike already!?!

Stu

 

[HovR]

Dude, stop fecking around with your bike already!?!

Stu

But it's the best (although possibly the most expensive, if you get things wrong!) way to learn. And to be fair I think that even the best of us have stripped the threads on a square taper crankset at one point or another.

Maybe OP could watch some video tutorials on YouTube before attempting things for the first time though.

 

[STEPHAN DAVIS]

This why I'm doing all the work on the work bike. I wouldn't be doing it to one of mine! Surely we've all had a fiddle with the office bike at some point!

 

[Booyaa]

This why I'm doing all the work on the work bike. I wouldn't be doing it to one of mine! Surely we've all had a fiddle with the office bike at some point!

I would love to, alas I've not had the chance thus far.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If it helps, I had this problem on my knockabout bike.

The first time I tried to service the bottom bracket the threads on the (very cheap and nasty) crank just pulled straight out. After trying and failing with several removal ideas I tried as a last resort (before bringing out the hacksaw) pouring boiling water liberally over the crank and levering it off, which worked to my amazement. It was quite a cold day which I think helped.

If you try this, keep the hot water off the frame as there is a possibility of it cracking the paint.