while pulling the cranks off my bike, i found that the threads are all screwed up, so a crank puller is not really goiing to cut it (since it doesn't screw in right). is there anything else i can do to get them off? thanks!

A gear puller should work. You can "rent" these for free at many auto parts chain stores.

My brother stripped the threads on his Shimano cranks. The bolts did come out. We pounded off the left crank arm with a HEAVY hammer. We were then able to get at the bottom bracket cup on the left. We then could remove the right side bottom bracket along with the crank and chain rings with a thin single toothed bottom bracket tool (a screw driver and hammer will work too, but you'll trash the bottom bracket and possibly gouge the bottom bracket housing...not a first choice). The gear puller mentioned by OldYeller looks like it would work too. It's really heartbreaking to take a hammer to bike parts!!! Good luck. Pat.

I have used a car ball joint removal tool, commonly called a pickle fork, place the tapered end between BB and crank and strike with hammer, crank will drop right off. Remove crank nuts first of course!

You may get a left crank arm off with that gear puller without doing too much damage, but it won't work on the right side unless you have a spider with an even number of arms. I have a puller exactly like the one in the picture and I've tried it.

There are repair kits to cut larger diameter threads and use oversize caps and an oversize extractor, but a new crank would be cheaper. You may be able to find a shop that has the tools and a mechanic that knows how to use them. A new crank still may be cheaper.

I've had to do the two jaw puller thing before. I hate to say it, but if you use one, you will most likely be buying new crankarms, as it will warp them! Try using high strength locktite with your tool. Also take a sharp pick and try to trace the threads to get them JUST good enough for the tool with locktite to thread in. Let it set up for 20 min, then try to remove again.

Sounds like ya'll not using the pullers properly. The way I was taught, and has always worked successfully for me is to install the puller tighten the spindle enough to put some tensoin on the piece you are trying to remove, if moderate tension isn't enough to move the piece then whack the end of the spindle with a brass hammer or a good rubber dead blow hammer. Done correctly the shock should be enough to unstick things.

Can you just ride it around with the crank bolt off to see if it will work loose?

Had the same problem myself.
Ended up hacksawing it off.
I cut down to the square taper on each side, filed a bit, banged it with a cold chisel and 3lb hammer.
Kicked it a few times, called it names.
It finally came off.
And it taught me a lesson: you cant be too carefull when threading into aluminum.

Thats what i did... works great.

+1 on that! Works great.