Crank removal

[mearlski]

Hi. I have a boardman mx comp in trying to remove the cranks on. I have annoying creaking when standing on pedaling so trying a clean etc. How the hell do they come off. Undone the bolts as needed and I have the front cog side Crank off. Can't get the other side off though. Resisted brut force but this bike is really micturating me off. 1 year old bike... Help greatly appreciated

Pictures to come but forum has a file size limit. Welcome to the 21St century

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mmeh6p9ocldh6 ... 7.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6e761s7qz6l50 ... 8.JPG?dl=0

[Brucey]

I think you need a crank extractor tool. SRAM have a nice website with service instructions for their products which most likely will tell you this.... welcome to C21 indeed! Or you could go back to Halfords.....

BTW if your RH crank was creaking and came off without the use of an extractor tool, it is quite probable that the fit of the crank is ruined and you may now need a new crankset.

cheers

[Gattonero]

Hi. I have a boardman mx comp in trying to remove the cranks on. I have annoying creaking when standing on pedaling so trying a clean etc. How the hell do they come off. Undone the bolts as needed and I have the front cog side Crank off. Can't get the other side off though. Resisted brut force but this bike is really micturating me off. 1 year old bike... Help greatly appreciated

Pictures to come but forum has a file size limit. Welcome to the 21St century

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mmeh6p9ocldh6 ... 7.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6e761s7qz6l50 ... 8.JPG?dl=0

Don't want to be rude, but 99% (the only exception I've seen was a friend who bought a nice -and expensive- Koga touring bike) of the factory-built bikes are hastly put together with almost no grease at all.
In fact, unless you've cleaned it I see a very clean thread for the crank bolt on the drive side!

Won't be surprised if the threads in the BB shell, the Lh cup, etc., it's all put together with very little to no grease.

You can gently heat up the Lh crank, pouring down water from the kettle (lean the bike to the Lh, so the hot water won't go inside the BB) or using a hot air gun. Using PlusGas or similar spray can help, too.

What is vital, is that the external part of the extractor is threaded all the way in the crank and straight, you don't need to force it a lot just make sure is firm. Of course, the thread for the extractor has to be clean, spraying a bit of oil is not wrong.
Once threaded, spin the crank and observe the central part of the extractor: it should not wobble. If it does, you've probably cross-threaded, remove and check that the threads on the crank are good.
If the extractor goes in nicely and is straight, then keep the crank and the spanner (usually a 15mm) on a "nutcracker" position and give it a go, all you have to do is break the seal and after the first 1/2 turn it's all very easy.

[Brian73]

SRAM Powerspline cranks (which is what you have) use the same extractor tool as for square taper.

I have them on 2 of my bikes.

It's worth removing the bottom bracket too and greasing the threads.You'll need another tool for this. If the bottom bracket bearings feel rough replace it with a new one (£12.99 from Chain Reaction cycles)

They can be a bit stuck as the factories rarely use enough grease (if any at all) when assembling the bikes. My LBS has some heavy duty tools (and staff) to remove stuck BBs. I bent my cheapo extractor tool trying to get a stuck BB out, LBS did it in 5 minutes.

[mearlski]

Thanks for all the replies. I was really annoyed yesterday so just put it all back together.

Ive been looking at the online vids for crank removals etc and found a few things out. I feel proud of what I have learned recently with basic maintenance but these cranks really confused me

Ill check out the toos needed (thanks for the pointers) and will proceed with greasing

In fact, unless you've cleaned it I see a very clean thread for the crank bolt on the drive side!

Cleaned nothing on the bike at that point. My exercise was ained at stripping down cleaning and greasing.

Thanks again for all the responses and information. Im sure Ill get it sorted this weekend.

On the upside Im looking at a new bike for the spring and halford will not be part of the purchasing decision.............

[Annoying Twit]

BTW if your RH crank was creaking and came off without the use of an extractor tool, it is quite probable that the fit of the crank is ruined and you may now need a new crankset.

Oh, that's a lesson I learned. Nowadays, I always make sure that the crank is on tight and check a few times after it's been on for a few days.

[mearlski]

Its amazing how after asking a few questions on the web I can now find all the answers and tools I need to do the job. And looks very easy now.

Just purchased a crank removal tool and bottom bracket tool to get things going........

Ill put the RH crank back on after cleaning and greasing but definitly taken on board whats been said about maybe replacing crankset - annoying as its only 1 year old but it is what it is

Thanks guys