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mikkla

Hi all!!

I want to take of the big sprocket at the front drive chain for cleaning and polishing purposes and having doubts on how to remove the crank.
I pressume this requires a special tool.
I saw some crank removal tools, but when I look at them I don't know how it is used haha.

Any suggestions?
Or just go by the bikeshop and ask there?

It is this one :

I have pullers in various forms and shapes, also with two, three or four arms.
Amongst others I have these :

So if this can be used then there is no problem!

trailrunner

No, you don't use that type of puller. I'm sure Chas will add in with a better explaination than mine. You have a cottered crank. There's a cotter pin that goes sideways through the arm. Remove the small nut, and with a hammer and a block of wood, tap the cotter pin out. Then you should be able to wiggle and loosen the arm and gears with just hand pressure. Once the cotter pin is out, they usually come apart quite easily.

sandranian · Site Admin

Sheldon Brown's website gives a great description of how to remove cottered cranksets. See here:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cotters.html

and

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/cotters.html

It has tips on removal and reassembly which are necessary before you begin, including what tools to use, and how to go about removing and reinstalling cottered cranksets. With this advice, it should be relatively easy!

scozim

As Sheldon says, though, don't tap the cotter pin. Give it a good hit. I did the soft little tap thing on one the pins on my late 60's Gitane and ended up mushrooming the tip so the nut will not go on. Now I need to get new pins.

mikkla

All clear thanks for the tips and links.
I have read the basics and know enough now.

I had though of removing the nutt with a press but was afraid the crank was treathed or something.
But now I know for sure it is a cotter pin and the cranks are taperd, great!!!

THANK YOU!!!!
great resource this site Very Happy

mikkla

Got'm off thank you!!!
O and they came off in one piece and the nutt is still oke Cool

trailrunner

It's great when the plan works!

mikkla

sandranian · Site Admin

As i understand it, the truly expensive part for rechroming parts is filling in the 'pitting' that occurred due to rust. If you don't do a good prep. job, it will end up looking like wrinkled tin foil!

scozim

You can always try some 0000 grade steel wool and (at least here in the states) a light amount of WD-40. Takes a little patience - I think my rings took 45 to 1 hour to do. It doesn't remove the pits as much but definitely gets ride of the rust and shines it up real nicely.

Before:

mikkla

WOW, good tips, definatley worth trying before blowing the place up with chemicals!! lol
Really good result Scozim Idea

I'll try that first, thank you

sandranian · Site Admin

Mikkla:

I purchased an old crankset which I then put on to my circa 1960 Gitane Randonneur. I plan on having it chromed one day, but don't want to spend the $500+ that it will likely cost to have it done right now. I purchased some rust remover and used a bunch of steel wool...then painted it with silver "Rustoleum" paint to preserve it. It looks fine with the patina of the rest of the bike, and stops the rusting process in the mean time. Of course the chrome on my crankset was MUCH worse than yours (completely gone), so I don't think you have to do this, but it is always an option to get the project done in the short term, while preserving your options for the long term!

You can really see the "pitting" caused by the rust. This would have to be filled and filed prior to chroming, adding substantial cost and time to the process:
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1V1tP0

Here is a link to see pictures of the rest of the bike, of which I am extremely proud!
http://www.gitaneusa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1050

Oh..and you can see the replacement tail-light and reflector that I purchased on ebay. This is probably what you want. The coolest part about it is that the reflector is GLASS!