Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)
  • Removing/installing tight hollow tech 2 crankset
  • pdw
    Free Member

    I’ve got a couple of bikes with HT2 cranks that are an extremely tight fit in their bearings, making it very hard to get the cranks in and out. Has anyone got any tips for getting them in and out (other than hitting them), or know why some are so much tighter than others? I’m always a bit scared of damaging the frame if I hit it too hard – usually held by the seat post in workstand.

    simondbarnes
    Full Member

    Hit the axle with a rubber / plastic mallet.

    oldnick
    Full Member

    I’ve always had to use a mallet to get mine in/out, bike held in stand by seatpost and bottom of seat-tube in left hand.

    7 bikes undamaged by this method so far 😆

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middling Edition

    Fresh Goods Friday 696: The Middlin...
    Latest Singletrack Videos
    easygirl
    Full Member

    When I tap mine I always out the bike on the floor, with wheels on, and lean on the seat with my chest , give it a good tap and out they come

    ricky1
    Free Member

    I smack mine with a plastic hammer,if it’s tight then that’s a good thing,if it’s loose it usually means that the bottom bracket has worn a grove into the crank which is never a good thing.

    Northwind
    Full Member

    If there’s any marks, corrosion or dirt on the axles, give them a clean- nothing too harsh, though. But don’t worry too much if they’re just a bit tight.

    pdw
    Free Member

    Thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like I just need to be a bit less shy with the mallet. The one I was taking out today also stuck firmly as the non drive side surface when through the drive side bearing, at which point the end of the axle is in the middle of the frame so you can’t hit it. Eventually wiggled it out but chainsets aren’t easiest things to get a good grip on.

    Daffy
    Full Member

    They need to be pretty tight in order to engage the bearing. Otherwise all that would happen is that the spindle would spin against the unloaded bearing, polish and eventually split the axle.

    rickon
    Free Member

    stuck firmly as the non drive side surface when through the drive side bearing, at which point the end of the axle is in the middle of the frame so you can’t hit it

    Yeah you can, tap the chainring bolts from the inside with the soft faced Mallet. It’ll tap out easy enough 🙂

    njee20
    Free Member

    LBS uses a rubber mallet, you’ll not do any damage. Then give the axle a quick polish with some wire wool to remove any corrosion.

    Jeffus
    Free Member

    Make sure you have the BB faced so it is square i had a frame were i could not get the cranks in until it was faced a Ragley Mbop.

    fourbanger
    Free Member

    Although we have plenty of mallets in the workshop, I find some wood on the axle and a ball pein hammer more effective. Also less likely to miss and hit your frame.

    martinhutch
    Full Member

    When I tap mine I always out the bike on the floor, with wheels on, and lean on the seat with my chest , give it a good tap and out they come

    This. Give it good old whack.

    asdfhjkl
    Free Member

    Couldn’t find my rubber mallet last week so knocked my cranks out with a plastic-headed meat tenderiser. Not the best tool for the job but did the trick.

    Northwind
    Full Member

    Conveniently my rubber mallet’s handle is just under 24mm so once I’ve whacked the cranks half out I can reverse it, poke the handle in, then give it a boot.

    (remember kids, when whacking out a crank, make sure you don’t have a chain device fitted. It does make a lovely nose though when you explode a chainguide.)

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

The topic ‘Removing/installing tight hollow tech 2 crankset’ is closed to new replies.

New deal added to Members Discounts