Bicycle Mechanics - Seized crank washers?

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Dakari-mane
09-06-08, 11:33 AM
Hello everybody!

I am hoping someone will be able to help me out with a little issue. I am trying to remove the cranks from my bike. I have read through Sheldon Brown's web site, Park Tool USA & UtahMountainBiking.com without finding the answer I am after.

I should point out now that I have just removed the bottom bracket from one bike without any difficulty & am having issues with the second one.

So without further ado:
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/pics/CRANK2.JPG
In this picture from UtahMountainBiking there’s a washer on the hex-head bolt that has been removed. In my bike both the washers appear to have become seized in the crank.

So:
If they have seized how can I remove them?
Or
Am I just a total noob at this & I have some other kind of crank that requires a special tool & I should go & hide now & be embarrassed?

Any help at all would be really appreciated.

Cheers:thumb:
DM

kellyjdrummer
09-06-08, 12:17 PM
If you can remove the cranks with the washers intact, do it. In my experience, with an old Diamondback Lakeside, I had 'screws' like the one in your image. It's been a bunch of years, maybe four or five, since I've removed cranks from my rig, and I really don't remember any washers. Since then, I had my tools stolen along with my last bike, so I can't go downstairs and take it apart. I have an Ellsworth now, and take it to LBS because of the burglary.

If you see washers, and they spin but don't come out, they won't come out and are supposed to just stay where they are.

Hope this helps. Take a look at http://www.bicycletutor.com
DannoXYZ
09-06-08, 08:08 PM
In the picture you posted, the "washer" is actually part of the bolt and comes out with the bolt. More traditional bolts have a separate washer. Just stick a screwdriver into the hole in washer and pry it out. Be careful not to damage the threads in the crank.

kellyjdrummer
09-06-08, 08:33 PM
In the picture you posted, the "washer" is actually part of the bolt and comes out with the bolt. More traditional bolts have a separate washer. Just stick a screwdriver into the hole in washer and pry it out. Be careful not to damage the threads in the crank.

That's the way I saw it, also. That black plastic thing is actually a type of plug to keep the hole in fairly clean condition. If what you have looks like the picture, including the crank part of the image, there is no washer.