Crank bolt loosening

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I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose crank
bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak went away...

So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up after
a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use loctite or
something? If so, what kind? Are there any other things I
should try?

I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....

tia, -nate

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:

>I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
>creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose crank
>bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak went away...
>
>So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up after
>a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use loctite or
>something? If so, what kind? Are there any other things I
>should try?
>
>I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
>bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....

The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's probably
toast. As for what to do, anything short of a replacement is
a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up and creaked
multiple times, you can try overtorquing the bolt, but I
rather doubt that it's going to help.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to
reply via email. Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

Werehatrack wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate
> <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:
>
>
>>I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
>>creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose
>>crank bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak
>>went away...
>>
>>So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up
>>after a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use loctite
>>or something? If so, what kind? Are there any other things
>>I should try?
>>
>>I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
>>bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....
>
>
> The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's probably
> toast. As for what to do, anything short of a replacement
> is a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up and creaked
> multiple times, you can try overtorquing the bolt, but I
> rather doubt that it's going to help.

These cranks are < 6 months old...What would cause it to
crap out? I'm really hoping that I don't need to replace....

"Nate" <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote in message
news:hJ6dndtJTuLXenPdRVn-sQ@texas.net...
> Werehatrack wrote:
>
> > On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate
> > <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
> >>creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose
> >>crank bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak
> >>went away...
> >>
> >>So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up
> >>after a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use
> >>loctite or something? If so, what kind? Are there any
> >>other things I should try?
> >>
> >>I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
> >>bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....
> >
> >
> > The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's
> > probably toast. As for what to do, anything short of a
> > replacement is a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up
> > and creaked multiple times, you can try overtorquing the
> > bolt, but I rather doubt that it's going to help.
>
> These cranks are < 6 months old...What would cause it to
> crap out? I'm really hoping that I don't need to
> replace....
>
Crap out? No, it's poor maintenance. You don't 'snug-up' a
bolt that calls for 25~35 ft lbs of torque. That's real
tight! Some would call it face shaking tight. A torque
wrench that will do the job for bicycle bottombrackets and
crank bolts is about $25.00 at Sears. Buy one, use it, save
some bucks, and have the satisfaction that you've done the
job correctly.

Nate wrote:
> Werehatrack wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate
>> <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
>>> creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose
>>> crank bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak
>>> went away...
>>>
>>> So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up
>>> after a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use
>>> loctite or something? If so, what kind? Are there any
>>> other things I should try?
>>>
>>> I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
>>> bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....
>>
>>
>> The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's probably
>> toast. As for what to do, anything short of a replacement
>> is a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up and creaked
>> multiple times, you can try overtorquing the bolt, but I
>> rather doubt that it's going to help.
>
> These cranks are < 6 months old...What would cause it to
> crap out? I'm really hoping that I don't need to
> replace....

If you rode it much while the bolt was loose, then the crank
arm will usually deform where it attaches to the BB spindle.
However, since you say you can tighten it and it's good for
a few rides at least, I'd go ahead and try the Loctite
thing, and REALLY crank down on that sucker. (Stop /just
before/ you hear the "crack!" :)

I usually have to tighten up the bolts for the first
~10 days after (re)installing a crankset, and then they
stay that way. Just keep your 8mm handy before rides
for a while...

Bill "hard part is getting 'em OFF" S.

Dave Thompson wrote:

> "Nate" <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote in message news:hJ6dndtJTuLXenPdRVn-
> sQ@texas.net...
>
>>Werehatrack wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate
>>><np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
>>>>creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose
>>>>crank bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak
>>>>went away...
>>>>
>>>>So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up
>>>>after a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use
>>>>loctite or something? If so, what kind? Are there any
>>>>other things I should try?
>>>>
>>>>I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
>>>>bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....
>>>
>>>
>>>The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's probably
>>>toast. As for what to do, anything short of a replacement
>>>is a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up and creaked
>>>multiple times, you can try overtorquing the bolt, but I
>>>rather doubt that it's going to help.
>>
>>These cranks are < 6 months old...What would cause it to
>>crap out? I'm really hoping that I don't need to
>>replace....
>>
>
> Crap out? No, it's poor maintenance. You don't 'snug-up' a
> bolt that calls for 25~35 ft lbs of torque. That's real
> tight! Some would call it face shaking tight. A torque
> wrench that will do the job for bicycle bottombrackets and
> crank bolts is about $25.00 at Sears. Buy one, use it,
> save some bucks, and have the satisfaction that you've
> done the job correctly.
>
>
I agree that I need to purchase a torque wrench, rather than
guess....Shouldn't a crankset stay tight? I had a mechanic
install them and they worked fine for 4 months, then started
creaking. While checking things out to find out what was
causing the noise, I found a loose crank bolt. What should I
have done differently?

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:31:42 -0500, Nate <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:

>I agree that I need to purchase a torque wrench, rather
>than guess....Shouldn't a crankset stay tight? I had a
>mechanic install them and they worked fine for 4 months,
>then started creaking. While checking things out to find
>out what was causing the noise, I found a loose crank bolt.
>What should I have done differently?

Tapered-square cranks should be just snugged (if that)
periodically, but for ISIS, where the "creep up the square"
effect isn't present, the bolt needs to be torqued to the
max recommended, and then rechecked at periods determined by
the severity of usage. If you're out there pounding hard
every day, I'd retorque at least monthly. (For the way *I*
ride, probably every 6 months would be adequate.)

Make sure the bolt hole is free of debris before
installation.

If you want to try for a temp fix, you can use Loctite Stud
and Bearing Mount (it was the red stuff last time I bought
it, though the current packaging may be some other color) on
the splines of the BB shaft; be swift with the installation,
though, or you'll risk making the problem worse. Bear in
mind that you may require vocabulary expansion in order to
adequately express your feelings later when you try to
remove the crank.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to
reply via email. Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.

Originally posted by Nate
Dave Thompson wrote:

> "Nate" <np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote in message news:hJ6dndtJTuLXenPdRVn-
> sQ@texas.net...
>
>>Werehatrack wrote:
>>
>>
>>>On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 12:54:06 -0500, Nate
>>><np@texasNOTTHIS.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have some Truvativ Stylo Team (ISIS) cranks that keep
>>>>creaking. After some investigation, I found a loose
>>>>crank bolt on left side. After tightening, the creak
>>>>went away...
>>>>
>>>>So what's the problem? Well, the bolt loosens back up
>>>>after a couple rides -- a real PITA! Should I use
>>>>loctite or something? If so, what kind? Are there any
>>>>other things I should try?
>>>>
>>>>I don't have a torque wrench, but have been snugging the
>>>>bolt up as tight as I want to without one.....
>>>
>>>
>>>The left crank's almost certainly wallowed; it's probably
>>>toast. As for what to do, anything short of a replacement
>>>is a patch, not a fix. If it has loosened up and creaked
>>>multiple times, you can try overtorquing the bolt, but I
>>>rather doubt that it's going to help.
>>
>>These cranks are < 6 months old...What would cause it to
>>crap out? I'm really hoping that I don't need to
>>replace....
>>
>
> Crap out? No, it's poor maintenance. You don't 'snug-up' a
> bolt that calls for 25~35 ft lbs of torque. That's real
> tight! Some would call it face shaking tight. A torque
> wrench that will do the job for bicycle bottombrackets and
> crank bolts is about $25.00 at Sears. Buy one, use it,
> save some bucks, and have the satisfaction that you've
> done the job correctly.
>
>
I agree that I need to purchase a torque wrench, rather than
guess....Shouldn't a crankset stay tight? I had a mechanic
install them and they worked fine for 4 months, then started
creaking. While checking things out to find out what was
causing the noise, I found a loose crank bolt. What should I
have done differently?

Did the mechanic use a torque wrench? Usually you can get away without it, but then you really have no idea how tight you got the bolt. When I switched from Shimano to Campy, I had my left crank arm loosen up twice. The first time it completely ruined the crank arm. New crank arm and it happened again. Buggered up the arm just a little. Finally I realized what I was doing wrong. used a torque wrench and what I would also suggest for you....
Loctite sleeve retainer. It's basically regular Loctite I think, but very thick to stay in place as you apply it to the joining surfaces between the BB spindle and insides of the crank arm. Helps take up any tiny gaps between the parts. Go to an auto parts store.

good luck,
John