Crank Removal
To be able to get to the bottom bracket of the bike, you will have to remove the cranks. Thats the things that the pedals are connected to. To do this you will need a crank removal tool. I also had to use a 14mm socket to undo the bolt that was holding the crank to the bottom end. The crank removal tool that I used can be seen in picture 1. I have seen other brands that also do the same job.
Warning!
Before performing the crank removal, please check and read the warning if your crank removal tool looks like the one here.
A typical crank removal tool.
Working on the left side of the bike, remove the plastic cover if there is one (picture 2). Some bikes may not have a plastic cover.
Removing the plastic cover.
Some bikes may have an allen key instead of a bolt. In this case under the plastic cover I have a bolt, and that is where I will be using the 14mm socket to undo this anti clockwise (Picture 3).
Using socket to undo bolt.
After the bolt is removed I will then insert the crank removal tool into the threads of the crank. The thing to make sure here before inserting the tool is that the puller is fully wound down into the threads of the crank and that the middle bit, which will be doing all of the work is also lined up to the bottom end. To help the the removal process, clean the thread and spray some CRC/WD40 onto the thread and around the crank where it's connecting to the bottom end (Picture 4).
Ensure tool lines up correctly.
When the crank removal tool is in postion, you can then start turning. The tool that I used allowed me to use a spanner or an 8mm allen key for more leverage. After a small amount of turning the crank will release from the bottom end. I had a lot of trouble getting the other side off. I had to use the spanner to get more leverage but finally it gave in. It is a good idea to lock out the other side so when you turn it wont turn the whole bottom end around (Picture 5).
Making sure everything doesn't turn.
You will feel the crank getting pulled slowly outwards by the removal tool. It will eventually be at a stage where you can take the rest of it off by hand. Then you are left with the bottom end spline looking at you (Pictures 6 and 7).
Bottom bracket after removal.
Crank removed.
For the other side of the bike, you just repeat the above procedure. After both of the cranks have been removed you then have full accsess to the bottom bracket. One thing to note is that some crank removal tools have a removal pin in the middle. On some cranks this doesn't quite fit inside the hole properly, so the pin is removed and then the tool can be used with ease.
If your crank removal tool has a removable pin, remove it and check that it fits inside the crank thread hole before using the tool, otherwise you may damage the crank threads.
