installing a crank without a torque wrench

Hi guys,

Bought a 2nd hand bike off the forums came in a lot more parts than expected.

I need to install the cranks and the stem.

Not even sure what the torque should be for them to be honest. Going by feel is this just a bad/potentially dangerous option?

VERY lightly smear the tapers with grease. Do it up tight but not too tight (don't accidentally fart or you know you've gone too far). Official answer.

forgive the ignorance, but, how will I know I've gone to far

You fart.. then it's all over.

No seriously you don't but I managed to install cranks for years without a torque wrench and they never fell off and I never broke anything.

I did a fart when I installed my cranks. Does this mean they'll fall off?

It's just a bike.
Do them up as tight as you can with a peanut butter wrench or big allen key (depending on bolt type) and it will be fine.

Ride for a bit and do it again.

The fart rule only applies to dudes. If a lady perspires within a minute of installation then you might have gone too far.

Hmm, not sure if sexist...

I did not do a perspire.

The fart rule only applies to dudes. If a lady perspires within a minute of installation then you might have gone too far.

Ladies don't perspire. They 'glow'

Dont keep retightening at regular intervals neither, or this will happen to you when you try to take off at a busy intersection: http://www.lfgss.com/album.php?albumid=1193&pictureid=9413

I go in dry. People have argued about this for ever.

Tightness is about two times that of a large jar of pickled gherkins.

A gentleman in a bike shop on Bethnal green road told me to put a large allen wrench in to the bolt and stand on it until it wont tighten anymore!

With the allen key type I just get the crank at 7 o' clockish, and the wrench at 5 o' clockish, and push them both towards 6 o' clock; then reset the tool and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, until it there's A LOT of resistance.

Science in action.

Use a large allen key and crank down on that bastard until it rounds the bolt off.

Then you'll know exactly how much force is too much. Don't use that much.

Hmm, not sure if sexist...

pretty sure that was sexist.

Bugger I thought so.
I am disappoint.

Hmm, not sure if sexist...
I did not do a perspire.

Aussie male.. of course it's sexist.

#blokenetbecomesselfaware

Ladies don't perspire. They 'glow'

They smell and have girl germs.

With the allen key type I just get the crank at 7 o' clockish, and the wrench at 5 o' clockish, and push them both towards 6 o' clock; then reset the tool and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, until it there's A LOT of resistance.

Science in action.

Surely this sort of science depends on which one of these two you are like:

Aussie male.. of course it's sexist.

#blokenetbecomesselfaware

I'm so pleased I got my visa...

:)

If you stay there you have to promise to be racist and sexist.

I did mine with just the allen key and have had no problems with the cranks..

I ve had other problems..

I put a tiny amount of grease on the tapers then, using a bit of wood to protect your cranks, lightly tap on the cranks with a hammer. Then tighten with bolts, dont fart etc. I have never had problems with cranks coming loose this way or that horrible "creak" you get when stepping on.

^ don't do this, crank bolts exist for a reason.

What might be a slight tap for one person could be a taper-hole splitting whack for another. I don't know what the big deal is, just tighten them to the right amount. Practice by being alive for a while and having to tighten a few hundred bolts around home and work, stripping a few and eventually getting a feel for it.

With the allen key type I just get the crank at 7 o' clockish, and the wrench at 5 o' clockish, and push them both towards 6 o' clock; then reset the tool and repeat, and repeat, and repeat, until it there's A LOT of resistance.

Science in action.

Is this GMT?