lennyk

I lost one of the crankbolt retaining caps on my ultegra 6500 cranks
anyone know where I can get one ?
Hopefully I wont need to remove my cranks anytime soon anyways

thanks

DMF 

Now how did that happen? There's no reason ever to remove them.

I think these also fit Ultegra, but get more info first: https://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...d=876564624103

They also show up on eBay on occasion.

Worst case, you can use the one from the other side to get the crank off.

lennyk

in my rush to ride my newly assembled bike I never tightened them

HillRider

I disagree. I always remove them when replacing the crank so I can visually check that the splines of the bb spindle are mated properly and seated fully in with the grooves of the crank arms.

The classic way to distroy an Octalink or ISIS crank is to install it with the splines not seated properly.

DMF 

You're right about that, but there's a much easier way than removing the cap and eyeballing. Run on the bolt while the crank arm can be freely moved around (in a circle). Keep moving the arm as the bolt is tightened. When the the splines start to hit it will jam. Back off the bolt a little, move the arm to the best-estimate position, then tighten slowly while jiggling the arm. It will come to rest (you won't be able to move it) with the splines in the grooves but the bolt won't jam. (If it does jam you'll feel it.) With the splines properly engaged the bolt should turn easily all the rest of the way down.

The above procedure depends, of course, on all the threads being clean and lubed. And the mechanic being sober and careful.