Oh Dear

Schoolboy error. I've overtightened some crank bolts, and now they don't come off. Have I f*cked em? Anyone got a cute way to get em off again?

Ta

allen key with broom stick taped onto the end, then just surprise the bolt... be talking in the other direction flapping your arms as if you're not bothered about the bolt, then suddenly jump on the broom stick & free the bolt.

If you were in the US of A you could just shoot it with like a gun and be done with it

slip a massive bit of piping over your crank bolt tool for extra leverage.

Mine were pretty stuck after a year and half's worth of daily commute, but I managed to find some tubing from a standalone hammock which did the job nicely.

umm, its a hex, and its not that that's jammed, the crank won't com eoff the axle when the bolt's undone...

slip a massive bit of piping over your crank extractor then...

Yeah, surprise, or maybe reverse psychology?

psychology? I want a time machine to go back and tighten them lightly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkIVvjZc9Y

WD40? and some shoooglin!?

are you using a crank extractor or is it the type that bolts at the end of the arm?

Thanks for that tommy. I'm tough enough, I'm a bit worried about hammering me campagnolo cranks off though ;)

hael, umm I'm not using a crank extractor, as I have no idea what one of those is. the bolts go into the end of the axle through the crank arm. btw what's shoogling? Is it a bit like jiggling?

Skullhead: You NEED to use a crank extractor to get cranks off..

Something like this..

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3614

Where are you based? We've got a crank extractor in the office if you're near Farringdon. You'd have to remove them here though...

I'm assuming these aren't cottered cranks too.

You can pick up a crank extractor for £5 or so, well worth it you will be surprised how much you will use it.
how to...
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=103

Haj, thanks for making things clear to me... Thanks for the offer bracestower. I actually don't need to take them off right now, but read somewhere (after assembling mine) that you need to be careful not to overtighten, and tried to remove mine, and then started sweating a bit...! cheers Scrapper. Tools are good, I seem to be collecting new ones at a rate of knots.

doh!! you saw me use one when i took the cranks off at my place ;)

umm did I?

Hey I'm new to actually knowing how bikes work.

Skullhead umm did I?

Hey I'm new to actually knowing how bikes work.
hehe :)

A crank extractor extracts cranks and I thought that was the only way to get one off?

Okaaaayyy now I feel like twat.

carry on Mr Pistantor..!

Not meaning to sound a smartarse! Just that it IS the only way to get one off. Unless you're Popeye ;-)

:) No you didn't sound like that, just starting to feel even more foolish than usual on here.

there are other ways, but they'd likely do to much damage.

joint splitter/large spanner/crowbar etc

i have once taken to using an angle grinder to cut clean through the axle when nothing else worked. writes off the axle and crank of course.

I have an extractor in SE1 area if you need to borrow it. Well worth owning one though.

This tool (me) will buy a tool.

get the Park one with the handle - it's a goody.