Bicycle Mechanics - creaking cranks and difficult chainring bolts

I have been having a creaky crank problem since I went fixed gear a few weeks back. The creak goes away when I tighten the chain ring bolts. The hitch is that some of my bolts spin and don't tighten and so the others take on more stresss and loosen, so I am contantly tightening the ones that don't spin.
How do I stop the ones from spinning so I can tighten them? IS there some sort of tool for these bolts? (I have noticed that they should respond to a flathead screwdriver but that doesn't seem to be working for me.)

Yep..LBSs $5 or so. Didn't have much luck with improvising either.
Hehehe..Tracked down a 38 T Blackspire ring at different LBS and asked to buy a tool for the bolts.
The LBS mech said he couldn't sell this one, (only had this one in the shop) but come buy and use it when I picked up the ring.
The owner was in the mech area when I bought the ring the next day and I asked about the tool.
He said $5. I said yes.
Sorry guy, my tool now. :D

Yep..LBSs $5 or so. Didn't have much luck with improvising either.
Hehehe..Tracked down a 38 T Blackspire ring at different LBS and asked to buy a tool for the bolts.
The LBS mech said he couldn't sell this one, (only had this one in the shop) but come buy and use it when I picked up the ring.
The owner was in the mech area when I bought the ring the next day and I asked about the tool.
He said $5. I said yes.
Sorry guy, my tool now. :D

THere will be a time and a place for this. And the tool will be mine!! :D

I have been having a creaky crank problem since I went fixed gear a few weeks back. The creak goes away when I tighten the chain ring bolts. The hitch is that some of my bolts spin and don't tighten and so the others take on more stresss and loosen, so I am contantly tightening the ones that don't spin.
How do I stop the ones from spinning so I can tighten them? IS there some sort of tool for these bolts? (I have noticed that they should respond to a flathead screwdriver but that doesn't seem to be working for me.)


Try bmx chainring bolts, they are shorter than normal ones.

You need a chainring bolt spanner (wrench). You can get one from Park Tools (Performance or Nashbar). That and some non-permanent loctite should solve your problem.

OK, the cranks seem no longer to be creaking. But now I have a creanking seat. Any easy remedies?

OK, the cranks seem no longer to be creaking. But now I have a creanking seat. Any easy remedies?

You seatpost could be extended too far, clamp is loose, clamp attaching to rails is loose. Of course I am assuming it is a creaking seat you are refering to Mr. English teacher. :)

You seatpost could be extended too far, clamp is loose, clamp attaching to rails is loose. Of course I am assuming it is a creaking seat you are refering to Mr. English teacher. :)


Wise asses get a detention. And you'll be cleaning... my bike with you favorite toothbrush. :D

Depends on where the seat creak comes from. Sometimes greasing the post works, be sure to grease the shim as well if it has one. Can be a loose binder bolt at the rails. And sometimes a bit of triflow into the join between the rails and the clamp.

NOTE: In a pinch you can use a dime to hold the slotted nut on a chainring bolt. If you have a chance to get the correct tool get the Shimano one, it is far cooler than the park model as it has a pin spanner on the other end to remove the crank cap on older cranks and an 8 and 10mm cut out for regular nuts ( I would not actually use these cutouts but they are still neat)

Depends on where the seat creak comes from. Sometimes greasing the post works, be sure to grease the shim as well if it has one. Can be a loose binder bolt at the rails. And sometimes a bit of triflow into the join between the rails and the clamp.

NOTE: In a pinch you can use a dime to hold the slotted nut on a chainring bolt. If you have a chance to get the correct tool get the Shimano one, it is far cooler than the park model as it has a pin spanner on the other end to remove the crank cap on older cranks and an 8 and 10mm cut out for regular nuts ( I would not actually use these cutouts but they are still neat)

And the shimano is very small. TL-fc20 if ordering.
The dime thing doesn't work if you have mod rings. Perhaps if you used bmx bolts and one thin ring.
My DH ring was 2mm thicker than the one off the triple spider and yes the tool was needed.

Thanks for the info as to what the other end was for...I was using it to scrape the paint off my frame. :p