How to reduce bicycle crank creaking and fix loose bolt issue

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In this video i'm showing some things you can try to reduce crank creaking, what do to if the crank bolts have come loose and why you should clean your bicycle.
If you have any requests, just shoot me a message :)

[@NikosKatsikanis]

after 10. years i finaly foud the answer!

[@mclean007]

Why don't you clean the parts properly and re-grease before reassembly? Wiping with a rag isn't enough - you need to degrease and dry the parts properly. And get some Threadloc! Very poor amateur job - no wonder your bike is in such a mess.

[@BostonGreen_E36]

John McLean yea but some of us dont have OCD

[@anarchoaristocracy8368]

2x speed, you'll thank me.

[@maantoor]

Anti Centrist What do you mean by that?

[@ralph_barbasa6909]

Tom Hagen he means making drivetrain into 2 by usually common bikes has 3 by

[@johnnyangel57]

LOL.. Thankyou...! I stopped watching and went back only to click the same video,[ habit I always go straight to comments] seen this & man I gotta do this more often...😋

[@fredblair8230]

@@ralph_barbasa6909 lol I thought he meant to fastforward the video

[@jakesnake747]

thank u

[@SomeDudeOnline]

So, for those of you with a problem similar to me (this video didn't offer a viable solution) here is what I did. My crank arm seemed to have just too much space so no matter how much I would tighten it down it would rock. What I did was fold up foil place it inbetween the crank arm and the axle (sorry I'm not a bike mechanic I don't know the proper terms) gave the crank arm a good whack to force it down on the axle I then applied some thread locker put the nut on and cranked that baby down. NOTE this was all after cleaning all contact areas thoroughly

[@SomeDudeOnline]

Update: The foil Solution only worked for a little while but I'm confident I found a permanent solution.... Read On... Simply get a washer (I used a lockwasher) and put it directly beneath the nut. I really didn't think this would work because there is still a gap between the crank arm and the axle but it did. There you have it. Simple Solution.

[@jamesdavies2473]

Just say. Take it off give it a clean and put it back on 🙄

[@RoadsideCycles]

Hey Mark, thanks for the comment. Let me cover your concernes below: 1) torque wrenches are not exactly household items. Also that info is usually on the crank. lets not confuse a home mechanic with a few wrenches and a bikeshop with the proper tools. 2) nail polish works as a great substitute for a threadlocking compound(which of these two is the more common one?) 3) these videos are meant for the amateur home mechanic. You can always take time and make a more informative one. Thanks!

[@Spanky8402]

make sure that you use blue threadlocker and not red. red requires heat to remove. blue will glue the threads but you can still get the bolt off but I accidentally used red when i was younger and I couldn't get the bolt off, even though I stepped on the ratchet. I had to buy a mini propane torch and I was lucky the heat didn't harm anything. It was a wheel nut on my front tire. I know now to get the blue. I still ride the bike and my crank is coming loose and I may have stripped my bottom bracket. if I did, I am just going to get another bike. it's a mountain bike and since I am mostly on pavement, i have been wanting a 700c onroad bike but I am going to see what is wrong with my bike 1st. it's a older huffy and I have had it since 1998. I am going to keep it cause new bikes are made cheap and if I want a mountain bike again, i want to go back to it. I will just look for a parts bike and steal the bottom bracket. I just never took a 3 peice crank off and it looks similar to yours. mine, with the bolt tight, will turn with my weight on it and it goes uneven with the other crank. It is stripped, from the looks of it. it's a square tapper, i guess. I am learning as i go.

[@stealthyninja216]

Thanks man! I had this same issue with my bike - really good too see there are videos on how to fix this problem - thanks got my bike all fixed should be good now :)

[@toogie555]

Mark...his advice is not that bad. He does mention that thread lock compound is the best option. The only thing I would add is that some rubbing alcohol (or your girlfriend's nail polish remover!) would help clean the oil/dirt off the bolts/crank.....it needs to be as clean as possible. Also, don't get the bolts so tight that the treads strip.

[@victorangermueller7815]

How can I get a new left side crank arm? FSA 200-1 D 175mm?

[@grezisekr5403]

remove as showed, clean best as it can be, put crank arm, hammer it in deeply trough wood block. screw in the screw firmly, hammer in crank arm again, screw the screw firmly again, hammer it last time, unscrew the screw, put threadlocker just on screw thread and screw it it wont work. kidding, it have to

[@702Climber]

Listen up people....this guy has no idea how to maintain or repair anything. Do not take this advice. Your crank has specific torque requirements. "I did not fix crank well enough" and "Unless I fix it really hard it comes loose" and "add some of your girlfriend, wife or whatever's nail polish" should be key indicators to you. Please seek out proper direction and stop listening to odd fellows like this. A improperly installed crank can be quite dangerous and cause more expensive repairs.

[@ThePraths]

This is a big problem i am facing everytime i ride! my crank arms whole or cavity has widened a bit and ruptured,so no matter how much i tighten the bolt or clean it the crank arms ditches after every 10-15 kms! what can i do to make sure that the crank does'nt skips a rotation in between coz of the arm whole rupture? some packing or somthing at the axis? plz suggest

[@whothefoxcares]

buy now!

[@rocketero2007]

thanks to your video I found out today about threadlocker fluid as my bike crank nut (instead of a bolt) is getting loose every time I ride my bike, and today I had to walk home with my bike in one hand for 45 mins because the damn nut got loose every block or so I ride it. .. I'll be ordering the blue threadlocker from ebay at $3.25 is not too expensive, hope it works... best regards.

[@slatonstrey2494]

rocketero2007 I had the exact same problem. Of course my pedal fell off when I was at the furthest point from my home so I had to stick it on and “scooter” home while my friend videoed me.

[@raalmeida2004ra]

Can you shine so light on this next time.

[@Rob1977b]

It puts the lotion on its skin

[@k9nsp]

🤣

[@AlexCAnderson]

If that red dot bothers you - it is most likely a speck of dust on the surface of your camera sensor. Use the camera function that cleans the sensor with vibration, or in a dust-free environment open the shutter curtain and use an air blower.

[@justjordan8018]

Video is fine just I expected something new. I can't explain it but 2 bikes had a lose crank on my in 5 days. Petty weird stuff.

[@002redu]

thank you bro i really needed this

[@johnmadara1252]

you know theres oil in it for a reason lol, doesnt just happen to get in there

[@vasicmihajlo]

Words can't describe how thankful i am!

[@pipomak]

How to clean your crankset, by Anton Chigurh.

[@zdzislawzacharski449]

Eat these 12 natural foods every day after 50

[@RoadsideCycles]

Thanks, this has to be the best comment of the day :)

[@deshawnm.r9399]

Helped a lot thanks my pedals been doing this for a while and had no idea how to fix it

[@fredymendez1786]

use a spray cleaner is very easy

[@lucky_fluffy6923]

Thank you man you save my life 👍

[@ryguywy]

Good but couldn't have been about half as long if you spoke quicker

[@victorangermueller7815]

It is A4C0999206

[@SomeDudeOnline]

@prathamesh salvi get a washer (I used a lockwasher) and put it directly beneath the nut. I really didn't think this would work because there is still a gap between the crank arm and the axle but it did.

[@welcometodamal3876]

please explain what that is

[@SomeDudeOnline]

Jamal Mcknight www.fastenal.com/products/fasteners/washers/lock-washers/_/Navigation?r=~%7Ccategoryl1:%22600000%20Fasteners%22%7C~%20~%7Ccategoryl2:%22600089%20Washers%22%7C~%20~%7Ccategoryl3:%22600101%20Lock%20Washers%22%7C~

[@welcometodamal3876]

SomeDudeOnline would this work for my bike my left crank or crank arm keeps falling of after i retighten it with a ratchet please help. Its brand new

[@SomeDudeOnline]

Jamal Mcknight Probably, it's worth a shot. A lock washer is really cheap.

[@welcometodamal3876]

SomeDudeOnline thank you so much

[@bokneeza]

I just bought a bike, an XC and went downhill, nothing too aggressive. After my trailing I decided to take it easy on flat pavement, notice my crank arm decided to get loose and it fell off. Hasn’t been a week and I’ve only rode my bike 4 times. Should I take it back or just fix it myself?

[@KaiserFailed]

A question for anyone who is in the know? But...can I use liquid soap to clean any bolts during bike maintenance? Some look really dirty, atleast on my bike. Wiping it down doesnt deep clean them. I will, of course, apply lube when appropriate. Is liquid soap bad?

[@asotolp]

KaiserFailed Yes and no.... Yes, you can use liquid soap, but only if you dry the bolts immediately - and you have to make sure to get all of it It also depends on the types of bolts, but that only matters if you do not dry them up immediately.

[@702Climber]

I apologize for the criticism. I have a video coming soon on this subject. It is geared towards the "home mechanic" and uses only a pair of pliers and some ABC gum (of course chewed by my girlfriend 8>).

[@RoadsideCycles]

It could be, but in that case it was the fact that there was some dirt on the crank arms and corrosion :)

[@josephstahl3137]

Threadlock or nail polish on the bolt. Should have lead with that but thanks for the info.

[@nickhoti123]

hey what i did was on my bmx bike im trying to use plumbers tape around the bolt but it still keeps coming loose what should i do

[@alifafifudin9557]

my fsa slk carbon crankset already loose. do you have any idea to open it.. the retaining cap also cannot be open ..it stuck

[@Antiinjustice2024]

I have this problem with my new 🚲 thank you so much

[@ethanzios8146]

Funny how we have thr same cranks,might just be the brand.What bike you got

[@RoadsideCycles]

Its okay Mark, just make sure she chews it through real good and add some molasses to keep the threads from coming loose because of vibration. Also, adding some diamond powder will add additional strength to the compound and make your repair seem more bling - win win!

[@slatonstrey2494]

Thank you I think this should fix my bike. I had no idea what was wrong with it and all I tried was tightening the bolt with a socket wrench (mine is literally a bolt) I also had the creak problem and hopefully this should fix the problem.

[@clarkkentcrisostomo5460]

Thanks for the simple help....i cant find the problem about that on yt until you came up♡

[@karlossipeli135]

i did this but its still loose.. anything else I can do?

[@unknown-6664]

It can not work like it is fixed and when i ride for some time and it comes out i weilded it and cannot do this what should i do

[@whynotohwell]

So are you saying that the cause of crank creaking is a loose....or dirt bolt?

[@fredblair8230]

wow I might try that nail varnish tip as I think my crank has dodgy threads

[@DarkVileplume]

How do you know what size crank bolt to get if your was losed?

[@tariklloyd-coombs5627]

Wow thanks that was sooo helpful my bike was becoming a nuisence and felt really unsafe.

[@WallaceDeGrammit]

Thanks for this video, my TruVativ X-flow pedals are always coming loose.

[@DopeAssGamers]

Is there any way to fix spline what is it replacable?

[@rs.ni69420]

Thanks i really needed this i can now ride

[@victorangermueller7815]

do you need a Serial # too?

[@k9nsp]

Use Loctite. You're welcome.

[@dangrigs]

5:58 link wasn't in the notes, would like to see that vid.

[@spress97]

Cheers mate you have solved a major problem for me.

[@herminigildojakosalem8664]

Hard to see. You need a video light.

[@onDishez]

U sure the bottom bracket isn't the issue?

[@jevalyntulagan3070]

what if its still loose

[@robertlee9712]

This is happenin to my spesilised the bolt keeps coming loose. then arn falls of ilooked inside my arm gog the teeth sem a little warn down whats the best way to fix it as its my go to transport 👍

[@Mantis858585]

Remove crank, put high temp grease on spindle, replace crank and tighten bolt.

[@deshawnm.r9399]

Can you do a video on lose barrings

[@vinayak1487]

Thank you this video helped me a lot

[@zacheryhansen1334]

What if theres a hesitation in it

[@RueKoegel]

the oil will destroy the crank?

[@zylerjohnson528]

What do you mean plz explain

[@hs50sniper]

Bolt size M8 X 18 ?

[@williamanjaro]

Your accent kicks ass hard.

[@haunted_.]

it could be the pedals too.

[@SPIDERMAN-vk4nk]

5:58

[@SjMotoVlogs]

Hello. I have a 24" Mongoose mtn bike and the left crank is SUPER loose (wobbly) how can I fix this!!

[@tierdrop1576]

That happened to me also with my bmx bike. The left crank was loose and making creaking sounds. So we took out the cranks and my bearings were broken. So we put in new bearings and it was fixed. Im not a bike expert but ya that might be whats wrong with it!

[@SjMotoVlogs]

+TheHumanAnt ok thanks. I do wheelies a lot so that might be why lol.

[@brightjoe651]

Same problem with me, the left crank gets very loose after riding my MTB for about half an hour. I went to my local bike repairing shop twice to get it tighten, but nothing helped yet. It still wears out. I'll take it to a good bike repair shop today with some of my friends to get it fixed, even if I have to change those bearings. It's just a 5 day old MTB, but not a very expensive bike though. I really need it fixed.

[@welcometodamal3876]

some one please help me i just bought a new bike amd my left crank or peddle keeps coming off please help there is a video on my channel if you need to see please!!!!

[@DevonWeetman]

your voice😕

[@Paul-tq3tn]

Speed up man....too much ummmming

[@BostonGreen_E36]

Paul fml your impatient its only fucking 6 minutes

[@theosphilusthistler712]

too dark

[@metalmichael13]

what kind of glue do you recomend useing . i have a stripped crank arm .

[@zylerjohnson528]

The blue