If you are having trouble removing the plastic covers that hide the crank spindle bolts try squirting some wd40 into the slot then use the edge of a park mini cone wrench as a screw driver to twist the cap off. I don't know how many of those old brittle plastic caps I have ruined before I thought of this. Also, it you have the kind of spindle that takes a bolt instead of a nut there is a type(I think it is shimano ) that takes an Allen key and has a rubber gasket on it . looks great and you don't need to find a plastic cap.