How tight should crank bolts be?
7 min read
Asked by: Gary Martin
Registered. Most square taper crank arms should be 29 ft-lbs. That is pretty darn tight. As has been mentioned, if it came loose, the crank arm is likely damaged beyond repair already and needs to be replaced.
Can you over tighten a crankset?
Yes, it is possible
The bigger problem with over tightening a square taper is that crank arm can be deformed to the point where it will not stay tight. I always use a torque wrench when tigtening crank bolts to avoid over tightening.
How do you tighten a crank arm bolt?
We put the tool in the cap. Just a couple of fingers will do us about four inch pounds. Sometimes not that much if you bring the crank arm over to the bearings. But not into the bearings.
How much torque should a crank bolt bike have?
Crankset, Bottom Bracket and Pedal Area
| Component | Type/Brand | Inch-Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Crank bolt (including spline-type cranks and square-spindle cranks) | Shimano® | 305–391 |
| Shimano® Octalink® XTR® (M15 thread) | 357–435 | |
| Campagnolo® | 282–336 | |
| Campagnolo® Ultra-Torque® | 371 |
How tight should crank bolts be BMX?
Avoid exceeding 50 Nm, an extremely high torque anyway. You’ll unlikely you’ll get past 45 Nm except with a long-handled wrench. With the cranks slipped over the cartridge spindle’s tapered ends, secure the crank bolts and tighten. 50 Nm is also the limit.
Why does my crank click?
Crank bolts: If your cranks move side to side more than 1/16 of an inch, you’ve found the likely creak source. Remove each bolt with an 8mm hex wrench or 14mm socket wrench, then grease and retighten them. Seatpost: Remove and grease. Corrosion can form between the seatpost and frame, making a clicking sound.
How tight should a bottom bracket on a bike be?
Direction. Remember not to do it too tight. Once it is tight tuna screw the locking nuts back into place and tighten using the hammer and screwdriver.
What torque should a crank arm be?
Got Torque ?
| Bottom Bracket | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bottom bracket cups | 300-360 lb/in (32.9-40.7 Nm) | |
| Crank bolts | Bontrager | |
| Sport cranks with a single M8 bolt on each arm | 336-372 lb/in (38- 42 Nm) | |
| Big Earl cranks with a single M12 bolt on each arm | 384-420 lb/in (43.4-47.4 Nm) | |
Why does my crank bolt keeps coming loose?
If you’ve been repeatedly riding with a loose crank arm it could be that it’s now damaged. You could try tightening with lots of torque, grease on the square taper and threadlocker (e.g. blue Loctite, but in a pinch any kind of glue works) on the threads.
Why is my crank wobbling?
It may just be that it’s a one-piece “cartridge” and is rattling around in the frame, or it may be that the unit is “loose bearings” and the bearing caps need to be adjusted. Or there may have been some sort of failure of the bearings.
Why does my BMX crank click?
Usually it is a loose Bottom bracket. Check it. Sometimes, it can be the cassette, if it has really worn teeth, but its pretty rare that it causes such a noise. usually then it just sticks.
Can a BMX chain be too tight?
A BMX is in the right condition if the bike chain never hits the chainstay. With that in mind, you can determine how tight or how loose the BMX chain can be. Still, if you aren’t sure, you can slacken it by 2 mm and notice the difference. If your BMX chain is too tight, it will create a rattling sound.
Why is my BMX cranks loose?
–if your crank arm isn’t on the spindle enough or too much, it can come loose (you want the arm to be at least 3/4 the way on the spindle, but not on so much that the spindle pushes through the other side & bottoms out.)
How do you tighten a crankshaft?
Now using the screwdriver tighten up the cones they it takes out the play in the cranks and secures the bearings of the correct. Place do not over tighten.
How do you fix a wobbly bike crank?
Really make sure that you hold the pedal. And when you're tightening you want to get. This. On there as tight as you can to keep the crank garment flush with the bike.
How do I tighten my bottom bracket?
But to break this lock lock nut loose and then once you've done that you hold this lock nut in place while it's loose. And you will be tightening.
Should there be any play in the bottom bracket?
If there is play in your bottom bracket it means that the bearings are loose or worn out, it should be repaired soon because it will influence the whole drivetrain negatively, like sprockets and chain.
Should I grease my bottom bracket?
In the case of the bottom bracket, you will use the grease when you install it, whether it is threaded, press fit or similar, and in the same way when you install or clean the cranks. The point of contact of the cranks with the bottom bracket should be greased too.
When should I grease my bottom bracket?
Around the three month mark is normally enough time, even in the best conditions for dirt to work its way into the small gaps and contact points around the crankset and bottom bracket area.
Should you grease crank spindle?
With or without lubricant, in use, cranks will make metal-to-metal contact with the spindle, causing fretting erosion of the steel spindle for all but the lightest riders. Lubricating the spindle for assembly assures a predictable press fit for a given torque.
Can I use lithium grease on bottom bracket?
It’s also essential to note that lithium grease is a heavy-duty grease. It can withstand extreme temperatures and offers excellent water resistance. These qualities make it a solid choice for bottom bracket usage. Polyurea is another type of multi-purpose grease utilized in high-temperature situations.
How do you grease a bottom bracket without removing it?
Two suggestions:
- Do the “leaving the bike lying on a side” thing and use motor oil. It’s much better than WD-40 but not as good as grease.
- I have a can of spray lithium grease. It’s thicker than oil and you might be able to spray something like that into the bottom bracket between the axle and the cup.
Should I grease my cranks?
It is likely, unless your bicycle is quite old, that it has sealed bearings in the crankset, so there is no real need to grease them yourself. It is good practice to visually inspect and clean them regularly, but they do not need deep maintenance unless you encounter rough movement or an unusual sound coming from them.
Why is my bottom bracket grinding?
Grinding can occur in all BB system types and can be the result of many factors including the lack of grease in the unit due to dirt and/or water ingress or worn parts in the BB. Alternatively the adjusting cup can be too tight in an open/loose unit resulting in the grinding sound.
How do you lubricate a crank?
Film or grease on this surface. Against that dust.
Is WD 40 good for bike chains?
WD-40 is a great bike chain lube water based lubricant and will not only lubricate the chain well, but will also keep it rust and corrosion free. It also minimizes the accumulation of dirt which reduces the wear and tear of the chain.
Should I use wet or dry chain lube?
Dry lubes are for the driest conditions and cleanest chains. Wet lubes can be used all year, offer better value and have the greatest longevity. Whether wet or dry, it’s often a question of how much time and effort you want to put in. Either way, make sure you use a lubricant — your chain will thank you for it!
