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Crankarm Removal.

Old 05-25-09, 08:16 PM
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Crankarm Removal.

I posted this in the mountain biek section and got pointed here.

So basically I want to remove my shimano crankarms without specialized tools. Any tips or tricks? They are square holed if that makes any difference.



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Old 05-25-09, 08:19 PM
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If you don't want to buy the tool, take the bike to a shop and for maybe $10 they will remove them for you. Or, spend the $10 on a crank removal tool and do it yourself.
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Old 05-25-09, 08:24 PM
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Here's the tool referenced above.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200278_200497
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Old 05-25-09, 08:54 PM
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Get a hammer, the bigger the better, and start bashing on it until the crank falls off.

Seriously, the tool is only $10-$15 and you'll be able to effortlessly remove square taper cranks for the rest of your life.
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Old 05-25-09, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by xyzzy834
Get a hammer, the bigger the better, and start bashing on it until the crank falls off.

Seriously, the tool is only $10-$15 and you'll be able to effortlessly remove square taper cranks for the rest of your life.
hahaha! Tried it already! [Only kidding, I'm not that dumb.] Sigh... it appears the best is to get specialized tools... which brings me to my next question, why are there so many specialized tools for bikes?!?!?!
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Old 05-25-09, 09:23 PM
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Its the nature of the beast. try working on a car, and see how many specialized tools you will need for that.
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Old 05-25-09, 10:03 PM
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Well most everyday improvements to cars can be done with simple tools, but I will admit that more indepth engine and drive train work has a lot of specialized tools.
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Old 05-26-09, 04:24 AM
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When you consider that one of the starter repair kits for about $100 gets you pretty much all the tools you need to take care of a bike, that is not bad. Sure a truing stand, headset press and few other things are pricey, but those tools can be improvised out of things one hand (like your brakes, a block of wood) so the situation doesn't seem all that bad, does it?
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Old 05-26-09, 04:55 AM
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You've got some tools right?
It can be done with a hacksaw. Cut off axle close to crank. This may take a while as it's very hard steel.
Just be sure to use extra long crank bolts as you reattach the cranks (with the axle ends still inside) to the BB axle. Really tighten those up.
Try not to pedal too aggressively.
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Old 05-26-09, 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by ChanceCoats123
Well most everyday improvements to cars can be done with simple tools, but I will admit that more indepth engine and drive train work has a lot of specialized tools.
Even the simplest automotive maintenance job like an oil change requires a specific oil filter wrench. Spark plugs require a proper size deep-well socket. Newer cars don't need dwell meters or timing lights since a "tune-up" requires much less work than it used to be but they were specialized tools needed for routine simple jobs in the past.

Evey piece of machinery requires its own specific tools and bike are no exception. Big hammers and hacksaws will indeed do the job if you don't care what the remains look like.
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Old 05-26-09, 07:41 AM
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Get the tool. You can spend several hours getting it off without the tool, but your time is valuable.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:05 AM
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You can make the tool by finding a piece of all thread to match the outer diameter threads of the crank arms (or cut your own threads), cut the all thread to about an inch long, drilling the proper size hole with a drill press exactly in the middle of the chunk of all thread, tapping that hole for a bolt that has a diameter slightly smaller than distance across the square taper face. attache your new tool to the crank arm, and drive in the bolt. this is not very practical unless you have a drill press, tap set, appropriate saw to cut hardened steel, the right size all thread, and some time.

Or just buy the tool.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:30 AM
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Maybe you didn't know the tool is only $14. As everyone else here points out, not buying the tool costs you too much trouble. The only realistic way to remove your crank is with the proper tool.
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Old 05-26-09, 10:01 AM
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get the tool you'll be happy you did
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Old 05-26-09, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by tradtimbo
You can make the tool by finding a piece of all thread to match the outer diameter threads of the crank arms (or cut your own threads),.....
You aren't going to find an all-thread with M22x1.0 threads so you are going to have to start with a piece of steel round stock and turn it down and thread it on a lathe.

If the OP has access to that level of tooling, he can certainly afford a crank puller.
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Old 05-26-09, 11:14 AM
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Crank pullers are fun! Buy it!
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Old 05-26-09, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ChanceCoats123
Well most everyday improvements to cars can be done with simple tools, but I will admit that more indepth engine and drive train work has a lot of specialized tools.
There are certainly ways of removing crank arms without the special tools, but the results are inconsistent at best. It's a false economy to forgo buying a $15 tool when failure to do so may require purchase of a $75 crank after a botched removal.
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Old 05-26-09, 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by HillRider
You aren't going to find an all-thread with M22x1.0 threads so you are going to have to start with a piece of steel round stock and turn it down and thread it on a lathe.

If the OP has access to that level of tooling, he can certainly afford a crank puller.
this highlights my point nicely
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Old 05-26-09, 02:39 PM
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So just to sum this all up, none of you want me to buy a crank puller? They are only like $15, why not?
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Old 05-26-09, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ChanceCoats123
So just to sum this all up, none of you want me to buy a crank puller? They are only like $15, why not?
Just be glad that you don't have cottered cranks. A cotter pin press is 70 bucks .

Also, this is taken from Sheldon:

"Call it a crank, or call it an arm, but please don't call it a 'crank arm'"
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Old 05-26-09, 02:51 PM
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You don't need a cotter pin press to install or remove cotter pins. And presses don't always work. All you need is a punch, a hammer, some sort of support, and a glossary of sailor's terms, so you can curse adequately!
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Old 05-26-09, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
You don't need a cotter pin press to install or remove cotter pins. And presses don't always work. All you need is a punch, a hammer, some sort of support, and a glossary of sailor's terms, so you can curse adequately!
I had a bike shop try to remove some cotters and they did everything they possibly could to remove them, besides using a press. They severely damaged one of them and weren't able to remove either (I already had a rant thread about that,though).

I decided to buy the press, and it effortlessly did the job the professionals were unable to do (except the one they damaged that is).

No, you don't need the press, but it makes a difficult job much easier.
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Old 05-26-09, 03:14 PM
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Yes, it usually makes it easier.

I recently retired my only bike with cottered cranks. To get one of the cotter pins out, I had to drill a hole through the length of the cotter pin. Thereafter, I still had to bang like hell and recall all sorts of vocabulary. I emerged from the basement dirty and sweaty and made passionate love to my wife.
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Old 05-26-09, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by ChanceCoats123
So just to sum this all up, none of you want me to buy a crank puller? They are only like $15, why not?
"I have a computer or at least some money to use the internet at a cafe, why don't you guys pay for my internet usage? I already got free info from you guys, why don't you give me more things for free?"

is what that sounds like.
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Old 05-26-09, 03:29 PM
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Were you the same guy who wants to remove his cranks for no other reason but because you "Feel like it?"

Once again..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Murphy's Law says you'll end up stripping the threads or something, and needing to spend money getting it repaired. Why? Because you felt like it.
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