Plainsman

I'm removing an Ultegra crank arm (Hollowtech II outboard bearing setup), or at least trying to. I know it's adequately greased because I did it myself. It just wont budge. Do I risk damaging the hollow crank arm if I gently "persuade" it with a rubber mallet to get it off the spindle?

Davet

It should 'budge' fairly easily. Have you removed the pinch bolts that clamp the arms to the BB spindle? They need to be completely out. If so and the arms are still reluctant to come off. I would use a wood dowel and a small hammer, from the opposite side to try to gently, quite gently tap the arms off. After each tap, move the dowel to a different location on the crank arm. On the non-drive arm on later models of the cranks, there is a little piece held in by a 2nd bolt that needs to be moved also.

mike

Banging on the crank arm is not good for the bottom bracket. Get a crank remover tool or bring it to the LBS and have them do it.

MattP.

The setup he is running doesn't use a crnak puller.

Do you already have the left crank arm removed? If so, feel free to tap the spindle out with a mallet to free up the right crank arm. I have to do that 75% of the time.

Plainsman

No, I can't get the left crank arm off yet. It will budge slightly, but then nothing at all. So is the suggestion to use a wooden dowel to tap out the drive side (chainring/crankarm/spindle) from the non-drive side, through the left crank?

MattP.

Hmm, can't get the left arm off? Pinch bolts are loose? Compression cap off? As long as all of that is free, might as well give it a few love taps.

Plainsman

Got it! thanks!