You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hey,
I’ve got SRAM X1 cranks on my 2015 Remedy with a press-fit BB. I can’t for the love of god get the 8mm self extraction bolt off, or the 10mm nut covering it though. I’ve tried greasing it and leaving it to soak in, I’ve removed it from the bike stand and tried it on the floor. I have no idea when the bb was last serviced, but not for at least 2 years.
I’d be so grateful if anyone has any suggestions 🙂
Cheers
Diesel. Apparently its a very good penetrating fluid
After bodging the job for years with an Allen key jammed in some old bars I finally listened to a recomendation on here and bought a big breaker bar from ebay and a set of hex head sockets.
I don't do it in the stand. I have an old beer bottle crate which I rest the pedal against.
Yeah it's just incredibly high torque if done up correctly (54nm IIRC?). For me, that's more weight than I can put through an allen key. You need a breaker bar (I use an old seat post).
They are just tight, I use a good 1/2" drive 8mm bit, and a 24" flex head ratchet with a soft hand to crack them loose, no hassle or vibration shock. If they are really tight a 0.5m breaker bar comes out.
In a pinch an old handlebar over an 8mm should do it. You need a way to hold the other crank arm as well. Can take the pedal off and put a big tube over. I normally just hold them or stand on and pull, but it does depend how strong/heavy you are. Leverage makes life easy
Cheap 8mm (park) will snap trying to undo tight ones.
If you’ve got a decent 1/2” Drive socket set you can probably link a load of extension bars together to make a really big lever. You just need an 8mm Allen key socket thing for 1/2” drive. Before you get brutal on the bolt I’d soak it overnight with penetrating oil like plus gas.
Breaker bar would be even better than the above if you can beg / borrow / steal one - or even buy one 💪
Many a thread on this! As above, breaker bar required. My technique is drop saddle, sit on bike, right foot on pedal, breaker bar at 90 degrees and pull up. Great satisfaction when it cracks free 😀
Thanks so much everyone, your tips are fantastic! I’m going to get a breaker bar based on your advice. I’ll be sure to soak the bolts overnight too. I really appreciate it, especially being new to biking 🙂
My technique is a long old handlebar over the hex wrench with my son on the bike giving it the beans on the pedals against me giving it the beans pushing down on the bar. Yeah 54Nm always turns into something else.
I've bought a battery impact wrench and impact rated hex key 'sockets' to get my X01 dub crankset off. It's only had about 50 miles use but something is loose and knocking already.
Couldn't get it off with normal tools and haven't felt the desire to go on that bike for nearly a year - so it's still just sat there waiting for me to get brutal.
Stupid stupid design, compared with Shimano that just works with a plastic thumb tight fastening and some small allan keys.
I’ve bought a battery impact wrench
A bike mechanic failed to get mine off with a pneumatic impact wrench...
Managed it with a long bar over an allen key. Prepare yourself for the very loud crack when it goes - it sounds like you've broken your frame.