Marc -
Please follow the following link to two photos of my TA crank extractor:
http://idisk.mac.com/
If the link doesn't work directly, copy and paste it into your browser. If that doesn't work I can send you the photos directly off-list, but I thought others might like to see them, too.
You'll see a folder labelled "TA Crank Tools". Click on that folder and you'll see two photos, one of the set and another of the extractor itself. I've had these since the late 1970s for use with the TA crankset on my 73 Raleigh Competition. Note that neither of these beautifully-machined tools bears an identification as "TA". Instead, the extractor (23 mm) bears the stamps "VAR 408" and "France". Neither appears home-made in any way. The socket wrench is interesting because the socket includes a hex tab for removing the dust caps.
Perhaps someone else on the list might shed some light onto what "VAR 408" means and whether these were definitively made by TA. I hope this is helpful.
Tony Opperman
Williamsburg, Virginia
USA
> Hello Listmembers,
>
> I just received a "TA" crank extractor (23.0 mm) from an overseas seller
> on eBay. When I examined it, I could find no evidence that it was actually
> made by TA. It had a machined look to it as if it were home-made.
>
> My suspicions were furthered when I used it to remove some TA
> Cyclotouriste cranks. First use (and I'm careful) resulted in some
> slightly rounded bolt shoulders.
>
> Does anyone have a photo of an actual TA extractor to which you could link
> me? Furthermore, have any of you had good luck with knock-offs?
>
> Regards,
>
> Marc St. Martin
> Livermore, California
> USA