How to Remove a Bicycle Pedal Crank

Bicycles are made to take a beating, but one part that is constantly abused but rarely maintained properly is the crank. The pedal crank is the sprocket and pedal arm assembly that bears the weight and pressure of the rider day in and day out. Sometimes the crank will become bent or stiff because of worn-out bearings due to constant pressure. In the case of a warped or worn-out crank, simply replace it with a new one and keep on pedaling!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Screwdriver set
Ratchet set
Pedal wrench
New crank arm assembly
Bottom bracket tool

Step 1

Remove the plastic shrouding around the crank assembly. The plastic is held on by small metal screws which can be removed using the screwdriver set.

Step 2

Use the ratchet set to loosen the chain adjustment bolts on the rear wheel of the bike.

Step 3

Slip the chain off of the crank and use the pedal wrench to remove the pedals. Use the bottom bracket wrench to loosen the circular ring on the right-hand side of the crank; repeat for the left side. Many cranks are one-piece units, so slide the bottom bracket rings off of the crank arms and then pull the crank through the right side of the bottom bracket.

Step 4

Slide the new crank into the bottom bracket, screw the bottom bracket rings in tightly and put the pedals back on. Slide the chain back onto the sprocket and then tighten up the chain adjustment bolts. Bolt the plastic shrouding back on.

Tips & Warnings

The pedals and bottom bracket rings are reverse threaded on the left-hand side; to tighten them, turn them counterclockwise instead of clockwise.

Article Written By Nathaniel Miller

Nathaniel Miller is a technical writer for an environmental division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc. He has a Master of Science from Ohio University. With over eight years of technical writing experience, Miller has a diverse skill-set and enjoys a wide-ranging client base. He is widely published on numerous writing websites and runs a small writing business out of his home in Marietta, Ohio.

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