Bicycle Mechanics - the little cap on the crank....

i've installed my crankset.. and after screwing in the fixing bolt, there is an alu. cap that goes on the outside with two holes on them. i don't have that spanner tool needed.. so is there a diy way of installing it?

It's a decorative piece so long as you greased the bolt when you reinstalled the bolt it shouldn't be an issue. Alternatively snip a piece of wire coat hanger to span the two holes and screw it in that way. It doesn't have to be super tight _GREASE THE THREADS

ahh.. i forgot to grease that thread...

It's a decortaive piece ....................Actually, on ultegra 9 cranks it's the self extractor.

Actually, on ultegra 9 cranks it's the self extractor.
If he's trying to install it, I would imagine that it's not Ultegra 9. Or Record or Croce d'Aune.

As for installing it, use a toothpick and spin it on.

If he's trying to install it, I would imagine that it's not Ultegra 9. Or Record or Croce d'Aune.

Why don't you try guessing again.Pretty sure he's working with ultegra 9 stuff,and current campy cranks use a 8mm hex with built in dust cover.

Why don't you try guessing again.Pretty sure he's working with ultegra 9 stuff,and current campy cranks use a 8mm hex with built in dust cover.
Sorry. Haven't seen any of his threads where he mentions that's what he has, and I've never worked with an out-of-the-box Ultegra 9 crank. No need to be an ass. Oh, wait, you're sydney, it comes naturally to you. And my Croce cranks have self-extracting bolts standard, not a dust-cover.

You can use fine needle nose pliers. Don't slip or you will have a nice scratch.

ahh.. needle nose pliers.. didn't even think about that.. DUH! thanks.. and yes it's an ulteger 9...

hmm... if you have an eating fork you're willing to part with, you could bend down the 2 middle prongs and use that to put it on.

That's how I got a 2 hole dustcap off a while back. works pretty well :) That fork is resting in my toolbox as we speak :B

Sweet!

For the record there are older road cranks that used an Aluminum cap with two holes in it and the piece was primarily decorative in nature. (It's secondary function was to keep crud out of the puller threads).
No where in this thread did the OP actually state what he had

Does anyone else think the new crop of 2-piece cranks that don't have a dust-cap for the spindle look odd?

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2005/bikes/05AllezComp27_BlkWht_l.jpg

khuon.. damn that look like a donut missing the donut hole.

it may be much lighter than the current version.. but i wonder will it flex more?

khuon.. damn that look like a donut missing the donut hole.

it may be much lighter than the current version.. but i wonder will it flex more?

Actually it will flex less due to the large diameter pipe-spindle. I just think it looks... "incomplete". Good design but I'd be temped to rig up a pair of dust caps for it... possibly using some steerer topcaps or something.

heh, use bar plugs :p

You can use fine needle nose pliers. Don't slip or you will have a nice scratch.


Hey, I've got one of those, uh, both of those...pliers and a nice scratch, actually.

Well, sydney was close. I wonder what the diff is between Ultegra and Ulteger. Hmm?

Does anyone else think the new crop of 2-piece cranks that don't have a dust-cap for the spindle look odd?

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2005/bikes/05AllezComp27_BlkWht_l.jpg

Looks odd to have that triple on it.