crank-o-matics

Crank-o-bloody-matics

What a bloody stupid invention!

Whoever first thought of it way back when and Syncros decided to make them look pretty needs killing.

Trying to take some cranks of my new project today (RF I-Beams) and they are bolted on with these to some Specialised Directdrive bottom bracket (no idea, it doesn't look like hte ones in the 93/4 catalogues, but has two none drive side cups (cup.cone style), wide Alu with little holes in.

anyway, 6mm allen key, yes I have a long one but either the bolts will round first or my allen key will bend.
It's not the allen bolts they are loose but the crank doesn't want to come off easily.
And'll need a tool to get the damn caps off which should be loctited in, and probably seized.
Grrrrr.
6mm FFS, 8mm is bad enough when they are hard to get off.

Hard day at the office dear?

Acetone/nail polish remover will dissolve the lock-tite (if it's blue - red's a beotch). Lay the bike on it's side and pour some along the edge of the zircalloy insert and the crank threads. Let it sit for a few hours to soak down into the threads.


*edit*

I just had an epiphany (must be the coffee). I wonder if a spike tool is the same pitch? Could probably make one at work if not. hmmmm.

Had them bitd, the crank cap part snapped when I went to take them off one day and I had to then screwdrive out the broken bit and then find a genuine extractor to do the job....

Good idea, poorly designed

I have some Acetone, well mixed with two other obnoxiousness chemicals, it'll probably strip the anodising of as well. I know I need to vacate the room after a while
But worth a try when I next give it a go.

They're great if you take you crank of after every ride, but probably not every 10 years or so.