KING LARANOX
New Member
Hi all, I have an old Raleigh commando from the early 1970s, does any of you know how to remove the cranks from the bike, see attached photos.
Thanks
Thanks
Raleigh Commando crank removal
- Thread starter KING LARANOX
- Start date
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Specialeyes
Guru
- Location
- Essex
You're half way there having removed (or maybe it was missing?) the nut from the cotter pin on the drive side. Cotter pins are a sort of taper-sided cylinder, pulled in tight by a nut on the threaded end.
With hard-to-move cotter pins you can either undo the nuts and ride the bike up and down the street a bit to see if the pins work loose or use a little penetrating oil / WD40 in there.
Then using an oversize socket and a G-clamp make a makeshift cotter pin press. Put the oversize socket over the non-threaded end of the pin and using the g-clamp, tighten up to press the threaded end back through the crank arm towards the socket. Lots of cotter pins seem to be made of cheese, so you might want to thread the nut back on there loosely, so you don't mangle the end of the thread by pushing against it with the jaws of the clamp. Or, you could just use the WD-40 to try and ease it then twat it with a hammer, for a slightly less elegant solution!
There's probably a video showing the above on the Youtubes - there usually is
With hard-to-move cotter pins you can either undo the nuts and ride the bike up and down the street a bit to see if the pins work loose or use a little penetrating oil / WD40 in there.
Then using an oversize socket and a G-clamp make a makeshift cotter pin press. Put the oversize socket over the non-threaded end of the pin and using the g-clamp, tighten up to press the threaded end back through the crank arm towards the socket. Lots of cotter pins seem to be made of cheese, so you might want to thread the nut back on there loosely, so you don't mangle the end of the thread by pushing against it with the jaws of the clamp. Or, you could just use the WD-40 to try and ease it then twat it with a hammer, for a slightly less elegant solution!
There's probably a video showing the above on the Youtubes - there usually is
Cottar pins have a wedge shaped flat
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottom-brackets/cotter-pin-english-95mm-each/
Start with plenty of wd40 and leave it to do its work. Some people support the fat end of the pin inside a metal pipe or block or hardwood and bash the threaded end down. Beware this will probably destroy the threads. Use a piece of aluminium or hardwood between hammer and pin. Some people use a steel punch or bar to hit the pin more accurately
Old cottar pins are far superior to new ones made of cheese.
When refitting, gently press then hammer the fat end. Dont tighten the pin into place with the bolt, you may strip the threads. Just tighten when in position.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottom-brackets/cotter-pin-english-95mm-each/
Start with plenty of wd40 and leave it to do its work. Some people support the fat end of the pin inside a metal pipe or block or hardwood and bash the threaded end down. Beware this will probably destroy the threads. Use a piece of aluminium or hardwood between hammer and pin. Some people use a steel punch or bar to hit the pin more accurately
Old cottar pins are far superior to new ones made of cheese.
When refitting, gently press then hammer the fat end. Dont tighten the pin into place with the bolt, you may strip the threads. Just tighten when in position.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
^^^^^^+1 don't try and wind the pin in with the nut, hit it with a hammer.The nut just stops the cotter pin from working loose.
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
And refit the same way round
weareHKR
Senior Member
- Location
- North East Coast - UK
WD40 is good & I certainly use a fair amount of it, however, for parts like this, cotter pins, BB's or most weathered parts with thread or close-fitting parts I prefer PlussGas... 
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Those cotter pins will be well and truly fused in and no amount of magic liquid is going to free them but I can tell you you're going to using quite a few swear words @KING LARANOX Good luck.
There are various methods. If the pin comes out easily then great.
If not, then there are plenty of videos on you tube showing you how.
View: https://youtu.be/aeMLmbD1CRY
View: https://youtu.be/kmC-6qg8AL4
If not, then there are plenty of videos on you tube showing you how.
View: https://youtu.be/aeMLmbD1CRY
View: https://youtu.be/kmC-6qg8AL4
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Rost Off Ice. Heat. Block of wood. Hammer. Swearing.
KING LARANOX
New Member
Thank you for the help guys, much appreciated I will update you on the results.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Even the cotter pin
BalkanExpress
Guru
- Location
- Brussels
That crack in the chainring you can see in the last photo looks...interesting
