tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post4620063922802667479..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Retrogrouch Tool Time: Crank Bolt ToolsBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-25397815002235304852020-05-11T18:00:50.282-04:002020-05-11T18:00:50.282-04:00I have, and have used, every one of those tools! O...I have, and have used, every one of those tools! Okay, I think I may not have actually used the left-threaded Campy extractor, but there's one in the drawer, just in case. I also have a Zeus peanut butter wrench, which has more of a bend in the handle than Campy's, and thus it's less likely you'll bust your knuckles on the crankarm. Thankfully, I got over the "I have to have one of those tools, too" many years ago. The first cotterless crank I owned was the Stronglight 49D on my 1971 Motobecane. I felt the need to pull the crank and ground down a 16mm socket to get the bolt out, only to find that the arm was still held tightly by some mysterious force. With the bolt removed, I could see the square axle, but not the taper, so back in went the bolt and it was a 10-mile ride to the shop, where I was sold the extractor and some tips on its use. I still have it, and it was my second bike-specific tool, the first being an Atom freewheel extractor I needed for my Varsity.<br /><br />The 49D (first released in single chainring version in 1932) was the first aluminum cotterless crank to get any widespread use, and it was sold for over 30 years, essentially unchanged. The design lives on even today with variations from multiple companies. Perhaps Stronglight should get a pass on account of being the first, but that extractor truly was evil -- it failed by pretty much every measure. It was not only an oddball size, in an era when just being metric was odd enough for English-speaking countries, but it also had a very short thread, around 4 mm, when everyone else had at least 7 mm of engaged thread. The extractor also suffered from what I call "French fit," which led me to have several, since they all fit a little different, and I worked on quite a few French bikes. The VAR 22C and Stein pullers are expensive, but much better and cheaper than a new crankarm.Steve Barnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05141738452735566462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-4767230890825776472020-05-06T11:59:09.370-04:002020-05-06T11:59:09.370-04:00I've never seen a crank bolt other than 15mm. ...I've never seen a crank bolt other than 15mm. I didn't even know they existed, thinking naively, that SOMTHING in the bike world was standardized. I just use a 15mm socket, which is thin enough to fit.Dave Henrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00196484436129649526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-70683264944240643742020-05-06T11:09:04.866-04:002020-05-06T11:09:04.866-04:00A few years ago i briefly returned to track racing...A few years ago i briefly returned to track racing after a 20 year hiatus. One night in the infield, i needed to borrow a peanut butter wrench to tighten my rear wheel. My request drew blank looks from my 20-something neighbours.<br /><br />(someone had to translate & explain the name to them.)<br /><br />Good thing i didn't ask for a "pregnant wrench!"mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-33525278644970045032020-05-06T11:01:06.487-04:002020-05-06T11:01:06.487-04:00The trick is finding a 7mm hex key. It's a fai...The trick is finding a 7mm hex key. It's a fairly rare size. i once had a bikeshop mechanic tell me with a straight face that 7mm keys "didn't exist." (TBF, he was a young teenager.) At the time i needed it for an old 3TTT stem bolt. When i found a source i bought 3 (to replace the key i'd lost.)mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-7254852612028297622020-05-05T19:04:01.169-04:002020-05-05T19:04:01.169-04:00How on earth did Stronglight come up with 23.35mm?...How on earth did Stronglight come up with 23.35mm? Oh, I'll bet they were looking for something that would convert handily to 32nds of an inch - you know, 29.42/32". I've never owned a bike with a Stronglight crank, but at least now I'll be forewarned if I'm ever tempted!Rob in VAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09808912030913573444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-17036929217787448182020-05-05T16:31:04.850-04:002020-05-05T16:31:04.850-04:00I think the goofy campy adapter thingy is supposed...I think the goofy campy adapter thingy is supposed to a have a benefit that you may not have noticed. If the amount of 7 mm hex poking out is enough to seat all the way into the crank bolt, and no more, than the adapter face acts to stabilize (cantilver?) the hex shaft, so it's less likely to pull out (because you can't really exert force 100% around the thread axis... get it?). Anyway, I think the adapter is supposed to be in the PB wrench in the other direction, and with just the right amount of 7 mm poking out. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288964817422729303noreply@blogger.com