A bicycle crank is the arm between the pedal and the spindle of a bicycle that provides the leverage needed to turn the gears. The crank is held in place on the spindle by a compression fitting. To remove a crank, a special tool called a crank puller is required. This tool will press on the frame of the bicycle, while applying enough outward force to loosen the compression fitting and pull the crank off the spindle. This allows you to easily repair the spindle or refit new cranks.
Step 1
Place the bicycle in a work stand and secure the bicycle.
Step 2
Shift the drive chain on the front derailleur to the smallest gear on the chain ring. Remove the chain from the gear and allow it to rest on the bottom bracket of the bicycle frame.
Step 3
Remove any plastic dust cover over the tightening bolt in the center of the crank with the small screwdriver and set it aside.
Step 4
Loosen the tightening bolt in the crank with the Allen wrench or socket wrench while holding the crank arm for leverage. Remove the tightening bolt from the crank.
Step 5
Prepare the crank puller by rotating the outer thread assembly so it is fully extended past the inner threads.
Step 6
Thread the external assembly of the crank puller, by hand, into the crank. Fit the adjustable wrench to the flats on the outside of the crank puller and hold the wrench in place stabilize the crank puller.
Step 7
Rotate the internal driver of the crank puller, by hand, clockwise until it stops. Use the 16mm open ended wrench to turn the internal driver clockwise until the crank arm comes off the crank spindle.
Things You'll Need
- Crank puller
- 14 mm socket wrench or 8 mm Allen wrench
- 16 mm open wrench
- Medium adjustable wrench
- Small flat head screwdriver
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