Greasing cranks

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 22:34:46 +0100, Paul did issue forth:

Quoted message said:

I have a slight ticking noise whilst turning the cranks which it has been suggested might be as a
result of my cranks needing greasing.

I have the appropriate tools, a torque wrench and crank puller. I am assuming that I will need to
apply some copper grease to the axle before refitting the cranks - is copper grease what I should
be using? Secondly should I apply the same grease to the crank bolt threads?

Try googling for something like "greasing bottom bracket tapers".

IIRC, the general consensus (after a major semi-religious war) is that:

a) Square taper cranks, grease = bad
b) Isis/Octolink splined cranks, grease = good

Huw "This one hasn't made the FAQ yet?" Pritchard

Huw Pritchard <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 22:34:46 +0100, Paul did issue forth:

Quoted message said:

I have a slight ticking noise whilst turning the cranks which it has

been

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suggested might be as a result of my cranks needing greasing.

I have the appropriate tools, a torque wrench and crank puller. I am assuming that I will need
to apply some copper grease to the axle before refitting the cranks - is copper grease what I
should be using? Secondly should I apply the same grease to the crank bolt threads?

Try googling for something like "greasing bottom bracket tapers".

IIRC, the general consensus (after a major semi-religious war) is that:

a) Square taper cranks, grease = bad
b) Isis/Octolink splined cranks, grease = good

I say just grease the bloody things and be done with it.

Shaun aRe

Huw Pritchard said:

IIRC, the general consensus (after a major semi-religious war) is that:
a) Square taper cranks, grease = bad

There is certainly no consensus on this.

Quoted message said:

Huw "This one hasn't made the FAQ yet?" Pritchard

draco.acs.uci.edu8f.11.htmlOpen ↗

[Summary; Brandt says to grease 'em.]
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!

Quoted message said:

I say just grease the bloody things and be done with it.

Agreed. liberally apply copper grease, tighten up your bolts and ride.

Quoted message said:

Shaun aRe

Small Black Dog

Small Black Dog <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I say just grease the bloody things and be done with it.

Agreed. liberally apply copper grease, tighten up your bolts and ride.

Last time I went to put new cranks on, I couldn't find grease anywhere. I'd roasted lamb the night
before, so I just used a big dollop of lamb fat and it worked a treat. - I don't see what all the
fuss is about with these fancy pants 'hi-tech' lubes! Heheheheheh.........

Shaun aRe - suck my greasy spindle!

Paul-<< I have a slight ticking noise whilst turning the cranks which it has been suggested might be
as a result of my cranks needing greasing. >><BR><BR>

Unlikely that the press fit of the crank to BB spindle will 'tick' because of being not greased.

I would say it is somewhere else, like BB, BB installation, chainrings, chainring bolts,
pedals, etc.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Huw Pritchard said:

Try googling for something like "greasing bottom bracket tapers".

Quoted message said:

IIRC, the general consensus (after a major semi-religious war) is that:

Quoted message said:

a) Square taper cranks, grease = bad
b) Isis/Octolink splined cranks, grease = good

Quoted message said:

Huw "This one hasn't made the FAQ yet?" Pritchard

Oh, it's in the FAQ. See: draco.acs.uci.edu8f.11.htmlOpen ↗

Art Harris

A ticking sound sounds more like a chainring problem than crank/spindle interface. (I'm NOT going to
get into the grease-spindle argument!).

A loose crank is more of a clunk that can be felt as much as heard. I'd check the ring bolts first,
the next possibilities are pedal spindles/bearings, cages (if they are traditional rat-trap pedals),
then crank bearings.

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

In article said:

I have a slight ticking noise whilst turning the cranks which it has been suggested might be as a
result of my cranks needing greasing.

I have the appropriate tools, a torque wrench and crank puller. I am assuming that I will need to
apply some copper grease to the axle before refitting the cranks - is copper grease what I should
be using? Secondly should I apply the same grease to the crank bolt threads?

If this copper grease has flakes of copper in it I would not use it for the crank, but I would use
regular grease. The grease is mostly squeezed out of the tapered fit and I wonder what would happen
if there was a bit of copper caught in there.

Quoted message said:

Sorry if this is a bit basic but so are my mechanical skills, hopefully managing to do this may
help my confidence.

Brace yourself, there is another school of thought on this, namely that you need to remove all
grease from the tapers before assembling. Those of this school of thought reference various
manufacturer's publications on this. If leaving the tapers dry is the correct way of doing this,
then this is the only time a taper is assembled without lubrication.

I grease the tapers (not to mention the threads and both sides of the washer) and tighten the bolts
to 35 ft lbs and never touch that bolt again until the next time I take the crank off.

Tom Gibb <[email hidden]