Bicycle Mechanics - crank arms

ok I didn't find quite this problem in a search so here goes...

I have a creak/click kinda sound when I get out of the saddle and pedal on my road bike. I added grease to my pedals and crank arms yet the sound still presists. one of my friends suggested that I try to tighten the bottom bracket.

Currently I am stuck because I cannot figure out how to get the crank arm off the spindle, I removed the bolt but the arm is so tightly on that I have yet to be able to remove it, so is there a special tool that I need or a better way to remove them for service, or should I go the the lbs?

secondly does anyone have a better suggestion as to what the sound may be? I ruled out spokes making the noise under stress as the sound comes from the crankset/bb area. the bike is fairly new and is an al frame, with shimano 105 cranks. anyhow any help would be appreciated :D

First of all, Yes there is a special tool to remove the crank arms. Your LBS should have one, I would suggest buying one. Park Tools is the standard issue, but other companies make them as well. Make sure you get one that will work with hollow spindles (newer 105 and better), there is a little metal button (Cap??) that fits into the spindle and lets the crank puller push against it!

Secondly, are you sure it's your crank? It may be just the pedal. If the sound is more of a click, I would start with the pedals. Grab the pedal in your hand and twist (sideways) it. See if there is any sloppiness to it. Also, spin the cranks holding the pedal, if a bearing is worn you should be able to feel it as it goes around.

Is the sound more of a clunk? If so, then it could also be your bottom bracket. Grap a pedal in each hand and try moving them sideways. (tangent to the rotation of the cranks) if there is significant play, your bb is shot!

If it's a scrapping sound, it could be the chain rubbing the front derailleur. This sometimes happens when standing up and cranking hard with a lot of force. The bottom bracket assembly (meaning frame) will flex and the chain will rub the outer cage of the front derailleur. If this is the case, turn your limit screw out 1/4 to 1/2 turn and you're done.

Good Luck.
L8R

A crank extractor is one of the very few very specialized tools that are "must have" for aspiring bike mechanics. You can use something like a auto/machine gear puller or pulley remover, but the even a Park extractor is not but $16-17 bucks. Use it carefully. If you have the kind of crank bolt that uses a separate washer, make sure the washer has not stayed in place. If you have 8mm allen head crank bolts that have the integral washer this is not a concern. Back the extractor plug way out before screwing the extractor into the crank threads. Otherwise the plug may bottom against the spindle making you think you have screwed the extractor in far enough when you really haven't. Turning the plug to begin the extration process without the extractor fully seated could easily damage the crank threads. When you thread the extractor into the threads on the crank, be VERY careful not to cross thread. If it doesn't start easily, STOP and try again. Use a very light touch. The threads are very fine and the aluminum is soft so it is very easy to strip the crank threads, which really becomes a pain. Screw the extractor in until it is good and snug. It doesn't have to be really tight, you just don't want any slack that could allow things to move and damage the threads when you start the actual extraction process which generates quite a bit of pressure. When everything is seated, and you begin screwing in the plug to "push" the crank off it can take a little effort. Once things begin to move you can pretty much pull it right off. If it seems to be taking extreme effort STOP, remove the extractor, and double check that you took that washer off. I inadvertently left the washer in the first time I tried and wound up with the washer beautifully press-fitted onto the extractor plug. That was a real pain.

Hope this helps,
Raymond

Agree with whatever Rainman and A2psyklnut said about
crank pullers.
Sometimes I get a similiar creaking/clicking sound when
I stand on pedals or really push hard (and not spin).
what I finally found was that my pedal axles needed a
bit of lube.
Also check on some lube on your pedals/cleats.
Hope this helps,
Marty

If none of the above mentioned solutions fix the problem, then extrat your bottom bracket cups and wrap one layer of teflon tape on them and re assemble.

Oddly enough, I just went through the same thing. A mechanic looked at it, and it turned the quick release on my back wheel wasn't on right.

Originally posted by Nitter
Oddly enough, I just went through the same thing. A mechanic looked at it, and it turned the quick release on my back wheel wasn't on right.

A while back I discovered the same solution. Until the discovery, the creak noise drove me batty while I looked for it!

well, I'm really not sure what happened, the sound just went away I'm guessing the grease I applied yesterday worked its way into the bearing or something and made the sound go away... anyhow I'm still going to get the crank extractor tool but thanks for the help :)

too see if it really went away, go to a steep hill and just crank hard right up the hill. see if it clicks then.. i know what your talking about and i just dont have the patience for maintenance so i just replace it.. try the teflon tape if you dont wanna replace it.