Classic & Vintage - Crank/spindle bolt question...

Which is the correct size for standard crank bolts, 14mm or 15mm? There's a 15mm bolt in one of my spindles and I can't get a socket inserted deep enough to grab it and break the bas*ard free. All the other bolts I have encountered for square-taper spindles have been 14mm. :notamused:

They come in 14, 15 and a few 16mm. Use a thin wall socket,
or buy one of those swell purpose built crank bolt wrenches
made by Park and other companies.

I'm having trouble finding a thin-walled socket. I'll keep looking. Just wanted to be sure it wasn't buggered by a PO. Thanks.

I've ground a regular socket down for the purpose, worked great.
Till I lost it, then I ground another one down, it worked great too.
Then I found the first, now I have two. If you're not in a hurry, you can PM me your address and I'll send you one of them. It might be a few days before I can get to the post office, though, I've got the work schedule from Heck this week.

My experience has shown that higher end sockets typically fit and cheaper Chinese sockets do not. I've had no problem using a craftsmen socket.

My experience has shown that higher end sockets typically fit and cheaper Chinese sockets do not. I've had no problem using a craftsmen socket.

Agreed, Craftsman and Snap-On sockets work fine with the 15mm bolts here. If you're lucky enough to have a Zeus crank with 16mm bolts, you pretty much need to use the Zeus wrench (or the long out-of-production Park copy thereof) or a custom-thinned socket to remove the bolts.

Just a caveat regarding Craftsman sockets. They usually have two suppliers and the quality and thickness of one is inferior to the other. The inferior offering is usually the bundled toolsets in plastic carrying cases. Tell tale sign are the ratchets supplied, with a knurled spinner, not the better quick release button.
These sockets don't fit. The higher quality ones do fit, and they are also the ones sold individually.

Just a caveat regarding Craftsman sockets. They usually have two suppliers and the quality and thickness of one is inferior to the other. The inferior offering is usually the bundled toolsets in plastic carrying cases. Tell tale sign are the ratchets supplied, with a knurled spinner, not the better quick release button.
These sockets don't fit. The higher quality ones do fit, and they are also the ones sold individually.

That is a good point. The craftsman I use is much older than I am and predates the cheaper line.