CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Seized Yet Loose Chainring Bolts

(10 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by Uberuce
  • Latest reply from Uberuce
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Uberuce
    Member

    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.

    At the minute the bike's at home with oodles of penetrating spray in them, prior to yet another attempt to tighten.

    If that doesn't work, what do I do?

    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.
    Have the chainring bolts surgically removed with power tools?
    Something else?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Dougie
    Member

    If it was a car I would suggest heat followed by spray, need to avoid non heat proif parts on bikes I guess

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    If spray doesn't work I'd wrap fuse wire into space - and probably add a bit of superglue.

    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.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Uberuce
    Member

    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.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "I'm just about diligent enough with chain tension to be confident it will stay on"

    Yes, problem only if bolts get loose enough to fall out and chainring 'folds'.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. Smudge
    Member

    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...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. allebong
    Member

    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.

    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.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. Blueth
    Member

    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).

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Nelly
    Member

    Uberuce, after our impromptu meet earlier, did TBW give any advice / sort it for you?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Uberuce
    Member

    It's the drilling option, so it's in overnight and I took Longshank's Pony home.

    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.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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