How To Use A Bicycle Crank Extractor Tool | Simple Maintenance

Ever wondered how to take your cranks off, but you undo the bolt and nothing happens? You need to use a crank extractor! Here is our simple guide showing you how to remove your bicycle cranks using an extractor. Most older road and mountain bikes use cranks like this and a lot of Raceface cranks also use this system.

You Will Need For Removing Your Cranks:

• Crank extractor tool - Ice Toolz make a good, cheap one

• Spanner 15mm

• Allen Keys

• Sometimes a socket is required on older cranks

Firstly remove the crank arm retaining bolt. This is usually an 8mm allen or in some cases a 13 - 14mm socket.

Now inspect inside the crank and spindle. Offer up your tool to ensure that you are pressing against the spindle and not the crank you are trying to remove as this will cause damage to the crank. Notice how my tool has a hardened, shaped end to exactly fit into the crank spindle

Now fully unwind your extractor tool and thread the tool into the crank arm, nipping it up with your spanner. Make sure that the tools is threaded in with sufficient thread or you can risk stripping it out of the crank.

Now start to tighten the tool up to ‘pull’ the crank arm off of the spindle. This will sometimes require a bit of force but if it is extremely stiff it is likely that you have not aligned the tool properly. If so stop there and remove the tool and re evaluate the surface you are pressing against.

You should start to notice the crank moving away from the frame… Success!