http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Seized Yet Loose Chainring Bolts en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:41:27 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112174 Tue, 28 May 2013 21:18:25 +0000 Uberuce 112174@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's the drilling option, so it's in overnight and I took Longshank's Pony home.</p> <p>On the way I forgot I wasn't on a bike and ambulated along the middle of the cyclist half of South Meadow Walk, again. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112172 Tue, 28 May 2013 20:49:09 +0000 Nelly 112172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Uberuce, after our impromptu meet earlier, did TBW give any advice / sort it for you? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112138 Tue, 28 May 2013 14:03:14 +0000 Blueth 112138@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would remove the crank from the bike before getting to the impact driver stage. That would also give you the option to stick it in the freezer (similar principle to heat but less scope for disaster). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112123 Tue, 28 May 2013 12:39:59 +0000 allebong 112123@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Be very careful with loose bolts. I once trashed a very expensive set of 1st generation Shimano Saint cranks as, unknown to me, one of the bolts had loosened off. The excess strain placed on the other 3 over time resulted in the whole spider snapping and the chainring imploding. This happened while I was pedalling hard and resulted in a classic over-the-bars to faceplant. </p> <p>I recall I once had the same problem with stuck bolts. I took the brute force approach and was able to hacksaw through the bolts with a thin blade. Left horrendous scrapes and scratches on the ring and spider but I got it off. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112116 Tue, 28 May 2013 12:00:51 +0000 Smudge 112116@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Get someone to support the other side and try an impact driver (with a good fitting bit!), use heat, use cryospray if you have any contacts (laboratory slide prep) who use it. Keep using penetrating oil... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112073 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:45:23 +0000 chdot 112073@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I'm just about diligent enough with chain tension to be confident it will stay on"</p> <p>Yes, problem only if bolts get loose enough to fall out and chainring 'folds'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112069 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:41:12 +0000 Uberuce 112069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mostly the noise and possibility of quickened wear. I'm just about diligent enough with chain tension to be confident it will stay on - the movement is only visible if I've got my nose about 10cm from the chainring and am looking for it specifically, but it's annoying to the ear and feet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112058 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:01:06 +0000 chdot 112058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If spray doesn't work I'd wrap fuse wire into space - and probably add a bit of superglue. </p> <p>At this stage presume you want a chain set that doesn't make a noise and to remove risk of deforming and so shipping chain. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112054 Tue, 28 May 2013 08:44:02 +0000 Dougie 112054@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If it was a car I would suggest heat followed by spray, need to avoid non heat proif parts on bikes I guess </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10286#post-112053 Tue, 28 May 2013 08:28:34 +0000 Uberuce 112053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wee blue floofy has now only got one chainring bolt tight; the other four are loose enough that there's a wee bit of motion between ring and spider as the cranks rotate, but they're stubbornly refusing to unseize so I can tighten them. I assume they worked loose then seized up, although I confess I didn't pay any attention to them until the movement set in.</p> <p>At the minute the bike's at home with oodles of penetrating spray in them, prior to yet another attempt to tighten.</p> <p>If that doesn't work, what do I do?</p> <p>Put up with it? I've been happy-ish riding till now since the chainring can hardly fall off while the bolts won't unscrew.<br /> Have the chainring bolts surgically removed with power tools?<br /> Something else? </p>