Oh Dear

seconded

Had a similar problem myself. You might need 2 x crank tools and a paint-stripper gun. Firstly, ensure that you're winding the tool in the right direction - both sides are left-hand thread, unless you've got an Italian B/B, in which case they're both right-hand thread... leave the OK side tightened up and try loosening the stuck side. If that doesn't work, put the frame upside down in a WorkMate and apply both crank tools. Last resort is to apply strong heat to the stuck crank using a paint-stripper gun, then use the proper crank tool. Worked for me. Good luck! Jim

dont some cranks these days come with self-extracting bolts in them?

fc9k dont some cranks these days come with self-extracting bolts in them?

yeah i have some stronglight track cranks that do that,

yer i too have the stronglight one, but didn't realise they were self extracting (even though it says it on the bolts lol) it one of those brilliant moments when i was taking off the crank bolts ready to take off the cranks and viola they just popped off, pure brilliance, don't see why every manufacturer doesn't have these as standard.

I don't even get how the self-extracting bolts work (though i've not tried). I just take my stronglights off in the normal way with an extractor. Am I missing out and if so how does it work?

nah you couldn't take them off in the normal way if they had the self extracting bolts, not all stronglight have them i guess

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

Sorry just messing with you.:)

Ta all. Park Tools, one first, maybe two. Last resort - heat. Urg. Don't like the sound of that.

Still 'getting there' with the techy skills + knowledge. Took me about an hour to get one fancy mudguard on the old claud butler last night.... ahem.

Crank extractor's in Halfords £8.95

cheers!

for the record, pedros have higher (lower? i forget how this works) tolerances on their threads so they tend to fit into crank arms better, with less side to side play. and they use a 15mm box wrench instead of a built in arm so you get more leverage without having to stick a pipe on it. and they have a lifetime warranty. pedros = best tools ever.