Crank braking

emaichael
emaichael Posts: 109
edited September 2007 in Workshop
The crank is really... broken? its goes round and all.. but wobbles on each turn, ive tightened it lots of times, but after a long cycle, by the end its just as bad as it was before i last tightened it.
Is it possible to replace a crank on a bike? or something along those lines... i want to avoid having to buy a new bike. is there a way of keeping the one i have tight and in place, i'm asking online because people in the only bike shop where i live charge money.

Comments

  • simbil1
    simbil1 Posts: 620
    Is the crank arm coming loose from the crank? If so, you may have a crank with a tapered end where the crank arm fits on? These were common on older MTBs. Once they start coming loose they need to be put back on well. Get a mallet and bash the crank arm on nice and tight and then screw it down hard. If you ever want to take it off again, don't get over enthusiastic with the bashing.
    http://picasaweb.google.com/thefirstsimbil/Bikes
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Sounds like you need a new crank - hitting it with a hammer means it will only break sooner or later. Many bike shops have spare cranks - could be as little as £10 to fix.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • emaichael
    emaichael Posts: 109
    yeah its an old mtb,
    ive taken the little bit of cover off the side to access the screw to tighten the crank. but it just comes loose over time. The crank hasnt actuarly ever come off. but i'm worried that say i'm on a steep hill and i'm constantly putting pressure on it, it will come off.
    do cranks stay on no matter what, so theres not an accident waiting to happen so i dont need to worr,, or can they come off ? do they have a simular sort of... ''will keep getting tighter from pedaling' mechanism the same as how pedals attach to the crank? if so i'm going to put up with it. if not il hit with hammer (which i didnt want to do, because this bike has sentimental value)
    but thx for the info, because now i know the crank can be realistically detached so i dont need to buy a new bike! and uv saved me like lots of money cus the local bike shop charge for this kind of help.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    They can come off. If you ride it whilst its loose - you'll damage the fit. Theres probably a square hole in the crank that fits the square bolt coming out of the frame. The fit may not be so good now i think ?
  • emaichael
    emaichael Posts: 109
    ok, well il spend like ages saving, and il go to the bike shop and see what they say, but... i swear if they charge lots of money il rip there heads of and hang there balls on a cherry tree.

Categories