The world of bicycle components is among the most confusing and full of standards in the world. Where each manufacturer offers its technologies, which sometimes even vary from model to model.
The result is a universe of different systems, assemblies, and equipment, which can scare the novice mechanic or also the experienced professional.
In this article, we will see in detail the anatomy and How to remove bicycle cranksets.
In this way, it will be possible to easily recognize the type of crankset installed and understand which equipment and which procedures to put in place for the overhaul.
The equipment to remove the bicycle crankset
The world of bicycle components is among the most confusing and full of standards in the world, where each manufacturer offers its technologies, which sometimes even vary from model to model. The result is a universe of different systems, assemblies, and equipment, which can scare the novice mechanic or also the experienced professional.
Equipment for mounting and dismounting a crankset is:
- A key pedal
- A set of keys
- A key of 10 or 11
- A 15 key for pedals
- A hammer
- A wooden pin punch or block
- The WD 40
- The fat
Anatomy of a crankset
The term crankset indicates the set of the right crank arm, on which the chainrings are installed. The right crank arm is usually called the “crank arm.” The arms can have four or five supports (similar to a star), on which the crowns are fixed.
The heads and arms are equipped with holes, on which specific bolts for the cranksets are inserted. This aspect, too, is not minimally regulated, so the cranksets have a different interaxis of the holes, called the “bolt nuts.” Knowing the diameter of the bolt of your crankset is essential in case of replacement of the crowns. It is not possible to install crowns on cranksets with different bolt nuts.
How to remove the bicycle crankset?
The cranks are the element of transmission of power from the pedals to the chainrings. Both connecting rods are joined and rotate in solidarity. The connecting element between them is the bottom bracket (one of the essential parts of the bicycle).
The left crank is simply a “bar” that at one end is attached to the shaft, and the other carries the pedal, while the right crank has “legs” on which the plates are mounted.
Different types of cranks adapt to varying types of bottom brackets.
Now, we are going to see how the “traditional” cranks of mountain bikes called squares are dismantled (because the union to the axle is quadrangular).
To find out if your connecting rods/axle are of this type, you can check the axle section by looking through the gap between the connecting rod and the frame.
- The first thing to do is loosen the clamping screw on the connecting rods. On both cranks, it is a standard thread screw, that is, you have to loosen it by turning it anti-clockwise.
- Once the screw has been disassembled, you will see that the connecting rod has a square hole that snaps into the square of the shaft. To remove the connecting rod, you will need a connecting rod extractor.
- Screw the large thread of the puller into the inner thread of the connecting rod (which is only for this).
- Then it turns clockwise the extractor screw, which, as it enters, pushes on the spindle removing the connecting rod.
- Now you have to repeat the same operation with the other connecting rod, and you already have both disassembled.
In principle, the cranks are an effortless element and do not require any maintenance, and both chainrings and pedals can be removed without removing the cranks. Then you will wonder why you need to disassemble the cranks. The answer is easy: when you want to change or grease the bottom bracket.
Mounting
To assemble them, place the connecting rod in the square and then screw in the locking screw. Tighten without fear that both the screw and shaft are made of steel. The tightening torque has to be between 30Nm and 50Nm (a good squeeze!).
How to remove a bicycle crankset that has a square axis?
For a square axle crankset, the replacement is quite simple:
- Remove the cover at the end of the axle
- Remove the screw that fixes the crank to the crankset axle
- Extract the crank using a crank extractor
- Reassemble the assembly with the new crank
How to remove a bicycle crankset that is keyed?
Keyed bicycle crankset and crankset
In this case, the interview requires a little more thoroughness and observation. Here, the pedal cranks are attached to the axle using a threaded rod on one side. This crosses the pedal to block the crank axle. The base of the crank has a small 10 or 12-mm nut.
The shaft of the crankset, therefore, has a notch to allow the rod to pass through the crank, thus blocking the two parts together.
- To change the bottom bracket
- To remove and replace the crank, you must, therefore, follow a few steps, being careful not to damage the parts:
- Unscrew the nut to the edge of the threaded rod
- Protect the nut with a piece of metal and give a sharp blow with a hammer to slide the rod out of the pedal
- If the rod remains blocked inside, unscrew the nut a little more and retype a second time
- Once the rod is out, pull on the pedal to remove it; we can use a crank puller to do this
- To reassemble the new parts, carry out the manipulation in reverse order
- Here is your crank and your crankset is like new, you can set off again on your bike.
Conclusion
What you have just read is the general idea of How to remove the bicycle crankset. This is a list destined to change and increase since, in the bike, one standard rarely replaces the other, but the novelties tend to travel in parallel with the old systems. For this reason, it is advisable to carefully observe the installed crankset, to understand how it can be quickly and professionally removed.