Hi all,

I’m currently volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece where we rent out bikes to the refugees. Three of the bikes have cranks that don’t move freely around any more because they catch on the frame. I think they might need spacers put in so that they don’t catch the frame any more. Is there a way of doing this without any special tools?

Cheers,

Louis

That shouldn’t happen.
And it’s really, really unlikely that they left the factory that way.
So you’re basically down to three options:
- someone else has taken the cranksets apart and mixed in some incompatible parts - too short bottom brackets would do that.
- the bearing are so worn that the crank arms are wobbling around bad enough to be able to hit the frame.
- the bikes have been jumped, and the crank arms bent.

So, I don’t think it’s an issue with spacers missing.
Cranks can’t be removed entirely w/o tools
Cranks can be removed with other than the designated bicycle tools.
But the alternative tool might cost as much or even more than the correct tool.
A good quality generic bearing puller will cost more than a crank puller.
Work on improving your diagnosis first. Post pics. Then let’s talk repair.

Your organization rents($$) or lends(no charge) bikes? Most auto shops will have generic pullers; perhaps one can be borrowed.
Although if there is money coming in from the rentals; a crank specific puller is not that expensive.

Could be the cranks were bent at some point. Can you tell if they were bent? If so steel can be bent back with enough muscle and should remain strong. Aluminum can also be bent back a little sometimes but may crack. In either case, if they are bent you pretty much have no other option than try to straighten them out. If you can possibly send photos it may help to find a solution.

I'm sure with a few photographs and a nicely written letter to some larger bike shops, they would donate a few simple tools. Tools you cannot go without for bike repairs: Crank extractors, cone wrenches and a chain breaker

You need tools , period.
A book on general bike repair is a good start.

crank arms, crank sets and bottom brackets come in many many many different designs and many require tools specific to their manufacturer. The tools can go from wrenches you might already have, or it might be a 20 dollar tool you'll only use for that specific make and model, then need another 20 dollar tool for another.

So it is hard to tell you for certain what you might need without knowing specifics of the bike or good pictures.

.
...if these are the same bikes youi showed in your bent brake thread, the BB unit is a POS and is usually the first thing to go on them.
I have an unfortunately large amount of experience fixing crap like that, from working here at the bike co-op.

The only workable solution is a replacement with a standard, economy priced, Shimano sealed BB unit in the appropriate spindle length.

A dumpster considered a tool,?

but other than thgt you need to buy tools and learn to fix things without posting here , like you are helpless..

camera phone belies that.. have a library?

Assuming the cranks used to spin freely, something got bent due to misuse. As a start, I would lay the bike on its side, place one foot on the rear hub, then pull up on the crankarm. If that isn't enough, you could bend it back with a long pipe, 2x4, crowbar, etc. It won't be perfect, but it'll be usable.

so... you're advising rebending a bent ALUMINUM crank arm?

NO... just.... NO.

and there's a distinct possibility that the frame will bend before the crank arm does.

We don't know yet that the frame is straight. It could be the frame is bent, and the crankarms are still good. We're gonna need some pictures to make viable suggestions.

Are you really helping refugees if you rent them bikes? I am guessing that they may be in a camp where they have no means of income.

I need more details on the situation you face. I do sympathize with their plight, and I know that Greece has absorbed many more refugees than it can accommodate. But in the end, you do need tools and people who know how to use them on bicycles.

I managed to successfully bend the crank arm into a workable position today. It seems that you were right that a bit of brute force was what was required!

Thanks for all the advice folks...

You are RENTING junk bikes to refugees and your english is good enough that this isn't a misunderstanding.
You are mucking around with brakes and bending cranks with obviously very little or no mechanical competency.
Time to take an other look at what you are doing.

I suspect you're going to get a bit of grief for this but I'm here to pat you on the back. I know what it's like trying to get bikes rideable for people who can't afford them when you have no budget.

However, I'd recommend you get a few basic tools, and a crank remover is one of them. In this case, straightening the crank would have been a lot easier if the crank was no longer on the bike. At the same time, you could have pulled the bottom bracket and re-greased it making the whole unit a nicer ride for the recipient. That same tool might also help with your own bikes. Just one example. Build up a tool kit as you need it - if nothing else, it makes working on your own bikes more pleasurable.