unfamiliar with the Campy self-extracting crank bolt system, yesterday dismantling my chorus cranks, I manged to bit by bit remove the dust ring AND the bolt.

someone here kindly advised me that the ring/bolt system works together and so I just cranked the other side and Pop it came off.

Now though I am stuck with the fallout of my illadvised incursion on the non-drive side. I"ve got the crank arm still on (and of course my old style crank extractor tool doesn't work on this reverse thread hole. Does it?)

I see that to get the arm off I have to put the bolt back into the ring, reinstall the ring and then undo the bolt.

How do I get the bolt and dust ring back together now?

( I tell you, there is no bette way to learn how bikes work than trial and error. repeated error error error.....)

Campagnolo made a left hand thread crank remover for use on your cranks in lieu of the self-extracting sustem (or when it fails). It's been a while, so it might no longer be readily available, so if your favorite supplier doesn't have it PM me and I'll hook you up with one.

In the meantime put the crank bolt back, then grease the underside and threads of the removal ring (forgive me, I'm getting old and can't remember if there's also a washer between the bolt and ring, if so grease both sides) and install it into the arm tightening all the way to the left. The system should now be set to remove the crank when you back off the crank bolt, just as it did on the other side.

Wisdom is the ability to recognize sh-t when you step into it again.

Chorus? Campi selfextractor? what year Chorus crank is that?

brilliant! it worked!
I was a little concern that I didn't have the ring in deep enough to hold and that I was going to rip it out, but it held. and when it all came off, the bolt was securely reunited with the ring (there is a spring washer thingee that I guess compresses and pops into place under pressure. and the ring reseated much deeper once off the BB.

In 1993 the Croce d´aune crankset became Chorus. They both came with the selfextractor.

Ah, What about Truvativ? I took my cranks off to better clean them (and, to be honest, because I could - I've never had this type before. So simple.)
And that's my problem! I took them off by undoing the inner hex bolt on the non - drive side. But when I put them back on I tightened both inner and outer bolts - don't ask me why. I assume from Zinn I shouldn't have done that. What is the correct procedure? Tighten the inner bolt, then leave or tighten the outer? Only owned the bike 3 weeks and ideally I'd like it to last....

As long as the outer removal ring has most of the threads engaged it doesn't matter how tight. I prefer not to tighten them, and leave them about 1/4 turn short of the bottom so that in the event they seize I can work in either direction to free them. Also, If yours removes easily, take it off and put some grease or anti-seize on the threads then replace it.

Oh I try and forget about that travesty of trickle down. at the mention of a Chorus crankset I immediatly think of those beautifully sculpted cranks that adorned the original group.

Thanks FBinNY, I must admit I didn't realise how the self extracor worked, I was looking for a more complex piece of kit - doh! Now I understand all (!) and I can see what you mean, thanks again. It usually only takes me a couple of days before the penny drops, sigh...