Bicycle Tutor

Ok guys, I have a stuck Crank Bolt. I mean super stuck. Some crazy gorrilla sized human must have tightened this bolt down. I have been soaking it with GT85 for 24 hours. It still will not budge.

Jordan,
Hey there. Im not to sure of this myself but is it possible it may be left hand threaded? So many bikes out there these days.

Nope not left hand threaded. I dropped it off at my LBS, its in their hands now

Lol sounds like the bolt was being stubborn.

Hopefully the shop got it off. I am going to pick it up soon.

OK, they could not get it either, they said they soaked it in a solution that "always works" but they could not get it off. So I am stuck with a frame and a crankarm stuck on it. I guess it's time to get some big power tools.

You might be able to drill it out though you risk damaging the spindle. But even if you just get a hole down the center, that will sometimes weaken it enough to break the bond. Worst case of course, is to cut the spindle right behind the crank arm. Gives you the frame back at least, but you might then lose the crank as well if you can't get the remnants out.

I've never seen stuck crank bolts freed by chemical means, usually either leverage or impact. Has anyone tried a breaker bar extension on the wrench or a little hammering on the wrench to break the bond? Just be careful where the forces go so you don't wreck the frame.

Grease your bolts...

yeah I tried a breaker bar. I am taking it to my parents shop tommorow, I'll probably put it in the drill press.

Wish there was something more I could suggest too. There was a post about using a dremel for the bottom bracket. Don't think that would apply here if I remember correctly the gentleman's complete BB was rusted solid. Nice ideas Dave.

I GOT IT! I put it under a drill press and started drilling into the bolt. I didn't really know what i was doing at that point, I just knew i wanted it off the frame. Well I drilled into it for about a minute and then I stopped to wipe away the shavings and the bolt just started turning out really easily, I guess the heat from the drilling did something and freed it up.

congratulations jordan good work

That was an adventure. I can finally use this frame for something good now. I'll start a new thread of my new project once I get it going.