Crank spindle broken

[mattjg01]

I haven’t been active on the forum, but thought I’d share this and see if others have had any similar experience.

Commuting to work yesterday, I was standing to accelerate away from traffic lights when something happened. I cruised to a stop and found my pedals were misaligned (running clipless). Couldn’t do anything roadside, but when I got back home I removed the drive side and found this.

 

[Ajax Bay]

@Yellow Saddle

 

[albion]

They had a recall on 11 speed hollowtech cranksets.

 

[Webbo2]

They had a recall on 11 speed hollowtech cranksets.

I don’t think they recalled for the axle snapping, it was for the cranks delaminating.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Bonus points for riding for rest of trips just under the power of your right foot clipped in.

I had the driveside crank shear through the pedal threads on my fatbike in July 2020 on way to work, single leg pedalling on flats was fun, especially up the hill back home!

 

[albion]

I don’t think they recalled for the axle snapping, it was for the cranks delaminating.

Indeed, though I also recall seeing pics of the crank arms snapping in two.
There is a lot to be said for heavier old type square taper kit.
General cyclists do not need the incovenience saving a hundred+ grams.

 

[Webbo2]

Indeed, though I also recall seeing pics of the crank arms snapping in two.
There is a lot to be said for heavier old type square taper kit.
General cyclists do not need the incovenience saving a hundred+ grams.

I remember seeing a picture of Laurent Figion during the tour sat at the side of the road with pedal, toe clip, crank and half his square taper bottom bracket axle all still attached to his foot.
So they never snapped.🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[Jameshow]

I knew a friend of a friend whose crank snapped just like that ultegra I think..

He had put mudguards on and omitted a washer so the axle was scored by the mudguard bolt and obviously failed!

 

[albion]

I remember seeing a picture of Laurent Figion during the tour sat at the side of the road with pedal, toe clip, crank and half his square taper bottom bracket axle all still attached to his foot.
So they never snapped.🤣🤣🤣🤣

I doubt that one did. More likely the crank bolt came undone via either failure to torque or oil on the bolt.

 

[Webbo2]

I doubt that one did. More likely the crank bolt came undone via either failure to torque or oil on the bolt.

No the the picture stated it had snapped. That’s why I remember it.

 

[Drago]

Not the first such failure I've seen.

 

[presta]

I remember sitting in the middle of Maldon Road, Witham, with the right pedal and toe clip still on my foot.

 

[albion]

"It turns out the team had been using special titanium axles and had been warned they could fail. Mechanics had replaced all of them… except for Fignon’s. He’d been away on a holiday with his bike and so the mechanics hadn’t been able to attend to it.
https://inrng.com/2012/08/1982-fignon/

So just another 'weight saving' failure then, though separation also happens with a bolt coming off.
**edited for correct link**

 

[Webbo2]

"It turns out the team had been using special titanium axles and had been warned they could fail. Mechanics had replaced all of them… except for Fignon’s. He’d been away on a holiday with his bike and so the mechanics hadn’t been able to attend to it."
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-...onder-scenario-crank-arm-pedal-snaps-off.html

So just another 'weight saving' failure then.

I think your post implied that square tapers didn’t break. Which they did and not only the titanium ones. Hardened steel will break especially if it’s had a knock.

 

[albion]

I think your post implied that square tapers didn’t break. Which they did and not only the titanium ones. Hardened steel will break especially if it’s had a knock.

I copied the wrong item I had read. Corrected.