What's this called and how do I get it off?

[contadino]

I want to get in to service the bottom bracket on my bike. It's making creaking noises. So step 1 would be to ping off the cap covering the crank bolt. Except I don't know how to do that with this thing. I tapped it with a screwdriver, tried shining a torch in the hole, scratched my chin, then thought I'd best ask you lot...

Any ideas of what it's called would be a help. Do I need a special tool to get it off?

Many thanks.

 

[roadrash]

yeah , a screw driver, its then that you start to need other tools, lol

 

[Drago]

Big fat flat bladed screwdriver in the slot, unscrew it.

 

[midlife]

Or a coin, normal thread so lefty loosy. Righty tighty as they say lol

Crank dust cap

Shaun

 

[migrantwing]

50p piece. Works every time

 

[ayceejay]

A word of caution: I would say that when looking for a creak the bottom bracket would be the last port of call especially if you have neither the tools nor the knowledge as another creak then comes to mind - the one you don't wanr to be up without a paddle.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Most people never bothered with those dust caps, they used to go in the bin with valve caps and locknuts.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

From experience, if the dust cap is giving you pause for thought, everything beyond the dust cap is going to send you screaming to the bottom of the garden. Do you know anyone who has experience of doing this, if you do I'd ask them to sit in. If they don't bring tools with them, then they are intending to laugh at your misfortune repeatedly. When I first tried this in anger, I think I ended up making two trips for tools from the LBS as first time, despite telling them exactly what I was doing, and what I didn't have (anything specific) they still neglected to sell me all the tools I needed.

If you are determined, consider local 'bike maintenance' classes. Or sit down and watch a lot of youtube (about bike maintenance, not kittens).

 

[contadino]

Thanks. I'm now fairly sure that it's the bearings in one of the pedals that are the fault. It creaks for the first 7 or 8 km, worst when I leave home, and feels like bearings.

The pedals are 520s. New as of a few hundred km ago, and given a clean bill of health by the bike shop although I'm confident he didn't service them as the chalk line I put on them was still in tact when I got the bike back.

Just watched this and it looks like I need to strip my padals back myself.


View: https://youtu.be/utLU4kAHk_Q

 

[subaqua]

Thanks. I'm now fairly sure that it's the bearings in one of the pedals that are the fault. It creaks for the first 7 or 8 km, worst when I leave home, and feels like bearings.

The pedals are 520s. New as of a few hundred km ago, and given a clean bill of health by the bike shop although I'm confident he didn't service them as the chalk line I put on them was still in tact when I got the bike back.

Just watched this and it looks like I need to strip my padals back myself.


View: https://youtu.be/utLU4kAHk_Q

admirable you want to take em apart but for the cost of new SPD against your time and materials and tools . just buy new

 

[compo]

Nearly always when I have had a creak in my bottom bracket it has turned out to be either my handlebar/stem joint or my seatpost or saddle rails needing a wipe of grease.

That's not to say it couldn't be your BB.

 

[DEFENDER01]

Nearly always when I have had a creak in my bottom bracket it has turned out to be either my handlebar/stem joint or my seatpost or saddle rails needing a wipe of grease.
That's not to say it couldn't be your BB.

When i get a creak it is normally my knees.

 

[ayceejay]

Before dismantling pedals or bb check your cleats and then tighten chainring bolts to correct torque then make sure your pedals are attached correctly (torque, clean thread, grease)

 

[contadino]

Thanks. Did the cleats this afternoon and found one of the screws loose. It had stone wedged in the hole but it's limestone around here so I put it in some vinegar and watched it fizz for a bit.

Ill give it a try, but it does feel like a bearing problem though.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I recently solved a creak that *could have* come from the BB by tightening the left hand side crank, it was indeed a bit loose