Taking cranks off a vintage Dawes racer - Help please

[Alex11]

How do I go about this?

 

[compo]

It's down to the Irish screwdriver you used to remove your steering stem.
Position the frame on a block of wood under the bottom bracket. or rest it on the edge of a solid bench. Replace the nut onto the cotter pin and screw it down until flush with the end of the thread. This will help prevent the cotter pin thread bending or mushrooming when you do the next bit. Make sure everything is secure then give the cotter pin a few good whacks with your hammer. Be warned though, they either come out easy or they can be pigs. Just make sure you keep the frame supported on a block to stop the frame absorbing the shock of the hammer. You want all the force to go through the cotter pin not through the frame!

I used to use a block of hardwood with a hole drilled in it. The head of the cotter pin went in the hole and the crank was supported on the block. A 4lb lump hammer works well as long as you don't miss and hit the frame.

 

[sidevalve]

+100% the above. If the wood fails try a steel bar [socket extension] under the crank arm for support onto concrete or brick floor. Very violent but sometimes the only way.

 

[Alex11]

What is the cotter pin?

 

[tyred]

Follow Compo's excellent guide but the one thing I would add is to hit it and hit it hard. One or two good hard whacks is all it will probably need. Careful aim and force is the key. A claw hammer may be better as it's easier to aim than a lump hammer. If you sit tip-tapping at it, you will end up riveting the pin in place.

 

[Alex11]

Oh yes sorry in the photograph I didn't have the nut screwed on but I do have it.

So I screw that nut down tight, and then hit it very hard with a hammer?
I'm hitting the threaded end right?

Thanks

 

[Alex11]

Follow Compo's excellent guide but the one thing I would add is to hit it and hit it hard. One or two good hard whacks is all it will probably need. Careful aim and force is the key. A claw hammer may be better as it's easier to aim than a lump hammer. If you sit tip-tapping at it, you will end up riveting the pin in place.

I'll really give it a good old whack

 

[compo]

No, don't screw the nut down tight or the cotter pin wont move. Leave a gap between the crank and the nut. The nut is only to stop the thread on the cotter pin ballooning or bending.

100% what Tyred said, don't be afraid to HIT IT!

 

[Alex11]

So where abouts should I screw the nut to?

 

[compo]

It's great you are having a go, but obvious you have very little knowledge of bikes but you are going about learning the right way.

Can I suggest you get hold of a copy of Richards Bicycle Book, an early edition in paperback, not the later hardback one.
This one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Richards-...1058687853?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item33781fe36d would do you well and tell you all you need to know about bikes of your Dawes generation.

In the meantime people on here will be all to willing to help you with advice if you get stuck.

 

[Alex11]

It's great you are having a go, but obvious you have very little knowledge of bikes but you are going about learning the right way.

Can I suggest you get hold of a copy of Richards Bicycle Book, an early edition in paperback, not the later hardback one.
This one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Richards-...1058687853?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item33781fe36d would do you well and tell you all you need to know about bikes of your Dawes generation.

In the meantime people on here will be all to willing to help you with advice if you get stuck.

Ordered!

So, I'm going out to the workshop to give it a good old hit.

 

[Alex11]

UPDATE : The bolts came out like a dream, one hit and bang. Out. Lovely!

I took the crank arm off, but I cannot get the crank off on the side where the chainring is.

Any ideas? Help?

 

[Alex11]

It's off.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Alex

 

[compo]

Next

 

[Alex11]

Going to strip down the frame to the bare metal for a respray. There is some quite intricate metal lugging?? or pattern to the front of the tube where the Dawes badge is.

Should I just cut masking tape to fit?