genericbikedude

Hi! This is yet another creaky crank post.

My cranks creak! I think it is because they are cheap, and I've used them a lot. But I'm broke, and I want to find a halfass solution. Does anybody think it'll work to rotate them 90 degrees on the spindle? They are JIS square taper interface.

Thanks!

jur

That depends on exactly what is creaking. Eg if it is the bearing creaking on the BB spindle, that won't work. Likewise if it is chainring bolts (assuming your cheapie has them).

genericbikedude

I don't think its the bearings, everything spins nice and smoothly. PLus its a nice UN73 BB, and it shouldn't have crapped out in less than a year. It might be the chainrng bolts maybe--I would check them for looseness or something??

My cranks mainly creak when I'm mashing an overly high gear from a red light or something.

I'm going to get a new crank, but not before I get a new track bike. In the meantime, has anyone ever tried rotating their crankset on the spindle?

Jkwas

What about the pedals? I've had some creaking problems that were solved by wrapping the pedal threads with teflon tape, especially where the pedal shaft mates the to surface of the crank arm.

HillRider

My guess is the creak is from the bottom bracket threads. Try removing the crank arms and the bottom bracket. Then clean the bb threads, wrap them with a couple of layers of plumbers teflon tape and reinstall the bb making sure the cups are torqued VERY tight. Reinstall the crank, again being sure the fixing bolts are tightened properly. The required torque is much higher than you think unless you use a torque wrench.

I expect the creak will be gone.

Jkwas

That teflon tape is great stuff.

Jerl

I would try taking off your crank arms, cleaning the spindle, and then greasing them up before putting the crank arms back on.
Rotating 90 degrees might work...

SeattleTom

When I remember, I try to reassemble the cranks rotated 90 degrees, the idea being to distribute wear on the spindle. I doubt that it'd cure this problem. But hey, weirder things have happened!
You might try putting a bit of grease on the spindle when you put the crank back on.
Or, it might be the chainwheel bolts; that's most often the problem in my experience.