How to Troubleshoot a BMX Spindle That Tightens

The spindle is the shaft in the middle of a bicycle's bottom bracket on which the crank is attached, so when the spindle tightens, the crank gets stuck and you cannot remove it from the bike when you need to repair or replace the crankset. Fixing the problem can be tricky, because if you use brute force to detach the crank from the spindle you risk causing damage to the bike. Instead, there are two more delicate methods to loosen the crank around the spindle and make your bike operational again.

Things You'll Need

  • Wrench or crank puller
  • Grease
  • Cotton buds
  • Blowtorch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the crank arms using a wrench to remove the spindle nut and pull the crank. If the crank arms are stuck to the spindle bearings, use a crank puller on the plastic dirt cap threads.

    • 2

      Grease the tip of a cotton bud and use it to transfer the lubricant on the spots where the crank and the spindle are stuck. Because of electrolytic action, corrosion is caused between the spindle and the crank, resulting in them becoming stuck. Grease can help you loosen the parts and remove the crank more easily.

    • 3

      Rock the crank after you have applied the grease. If you see even the tiniest bit of movement, keep applying grease and rocking the cranks until it is detached from the spindle.

    • 4

      Heat the part of the crank touching the spindle with a blowtorch. Heat expands the crank -- especially if it is made of aluminum -- and allows you to pull it off of the spindle with ease.

    • 5

      Hold the crank from its unheated outer parts. Pull the crank gently to remove it from the spindle. It is not necessary to replace either the crank or the spindle, as long as you grease the parts regularly to prevent corrosion caused by electrolytic action.

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