From: Steven Sweedler <sweedler@mail.plymouth.edu> Subject: [CR]Cottered crank removal Once the cotter is removed and the crank will not budge what is your next step. Steven Sweedler Plymouth, New Hampshire ----------------------------------------------
Hike the bike/frame/crank up and clamp the other crank arm in your bench mounted vise (with the copper jaws).
Remove the pedal from the arm you're trying to remove.
Squirt some of your favorite fluid in and around the spindle/crank arm. Anything thin like wd-40 or penetrating oil is fine.
Slip a piece of pipe over the pedal end of the crank all the way down to the spindle. This is to prevent the possibility of bending the crank arm. (The pipe can be any length you wish. You'll be using it for leverage so as long as it's long enough to provide you with enough leverage, it's long enough. 2 to 3 feet should be enough).
Now begin applying force in the same direction that you'd be pedaling in. You're just trying to break loose the rust that's formed between the spindle and crank arm. Now apply some force in the opposite direction and keep doing this until the arm begins to budge and let loose from the spindle. Squirt more fluid in there as you're working it loose to help flush out some of the rust as it dislodges.
Guaranteed to work!
Bruce Schrader San Francisco, CA
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