How to Remove Bike Crank without Puller from Any Bicycle


Has a beat crank disrupted your smooth bike ride? The situation gets worse when you realize you don’t have the puller tool at home. So, is removing bike cranks at home possible?

Well, worry not because we have carefully prepared a comprehensive guide on how to remove the bike crank without a puller. You can get the job done efficiently on any bicycle and save you money from making trips to your local mechanic.

Learning how to remove the bicycle crank without a crank puller may seem intimidating at first, but when mastered, can be helpful in any challenging situation. Here, you can learn how to remove a bike crank without a puller or the need for any fancy equipment.

Removing Bike Cranks

While learning how to remove a bike crank without a puller is a simple technique with no requirement of mechanical skills, this should always be used as the last option.

Often people damage their bikes when trying to remove the crank from a bicycle. So, you should always consult a professional in this matter.

However, if you don’t have the luxury to do so, by following these steps, you can easily remove the cranks.

1. Pull Out the Crank Bolts

Now, you should move forward with separating the crankset from the bike. To do so, you should spin the bolts of the cranks.

This will undo the bolt to a certain extent, and this should allow you to remove the crankset with ease. Once the crankset is out, separate it piece by piece and find the crank.

To do so, you must ensure proper safety measures as the chain of the bicycle might slip off the wheel and injure your hands. Take your time with this step, and do it with utmost care and attention.

If there happens to be dust caps over your retrieved crank bolts, remove them before moving onto any other step. For this step, use a sturdy card to take out without damaging it with excessive tools.

2. Disconnect the Crank from the Washer

Now, you can proceed with disconnecting the cranks and the washers from one another. The washer is found underneath the crank and can be easily separated by using a spanner.

The washer is a disc-like metal component. The purpose of the washer is to distribute the weight of the nut’s threads and prevent them from loosening up which is helpful when using a bicycle rack.

Additionally, they assist in the wheel’s directionality and keep it moving in a particular direction.

3. Check the Crank Bolt

There are various sizes of crank bolts and nuts, so it’s essential that you thoroughly examine the crank bolts and find the suitable instrument to detach them. 

In the case of an M8 crank bolt, we recommend using a small tipped instrument such as a CCP-22 or a CPW-7.

However, if you have an M12 or even an M14 crank bolt, we recommend a more massive tipped tool such as a CCP-44.

4. Spin the Threaded Coupler

After selecting the suitable tool, all you need to do is carefully and gently spin the threaded coupler and keep it turning till the bolt or nut recesses.

Be vigilant of the whole process and don’t let the bolt through the thread as it could adversely affect the surface. You can carry out the process more effectively by using a screwdriver.

5. Thread on the Spindle Driver

After the threaded coupler has been entirely turned, thread the spindle driver. Carefully carry out this procedure as this will require massive arm strength.

Now, slide the spindle driver in the allotted area. You need to keep a check on how tense the crank is and tighten it up further if it’s loose.

6. Spin the Spindle in a Clockwise Manner

Now revolve the spindle driver once the crank is completely taut. Through this method, you can separate the crank arms entirely.

It’s best to be slow and careful about the process as you don’t want to damage the other components.

7. Unthread the Crank Arm Puller Instrument

Now you can move on to unthread your crank puller tool. This is only to be done if the crankset is entirely removed from the area.

If you don’t perform this step with safety measures and the utmost care, you can get hurt. So, always be vigilant and take proper safety measures before performing this step.

8. Repeat the Method on Opposite Cranks

Once you’ve removed the crank, you can now easily repeat things.

All you need to ensure is proper safety and precautions to get the desired results without injuring yourself or damaging the bike and its components.

Conclusion

Removing bike cranks is an essential skill one must have, and now you know how to perform it without the help of any fancy equipment.

With patience and a steady set of hands, you can get the job done in a breeze. With this article, we hope you’ve successfully learned how to remove the bike crank without a puller.

While the process seems tedious and intricate, all you need to do is follow the steps thoroughly and with complete vigilance.

Shailen Vandeyar

A proud Indian origin Kiwi who loves to plant trees and play with my pet bunny when not out doing about every kind of biking and experiencing the occasional tumble. Ready to share the ride with you.

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