Dahon espresso crank bolt sheared.......

[Tampon]

Not the worlds most exciting bike, but it is so much more practical than my road bike ( full size and folds for the tube ).

Problem is the left crank fell off the other day ! the bolt has sheared and felled out. Now I am not a light fella (17-18 stone depend on the rugby season ), is it my weight that has fked it, or would it be shonky build components ( the other side is fine).

The main thing is, where would I find a spare?, just take it to a bike shop ( the bolt that shear that is ) and ask for another one ( are these thing universal ? could he get the right part from looking at the old one ).

I have googles dahon spares but could find what I was looking for. Any tips to help prevent it from happening ? might I have over tighten it when replacing the pedals before ( took crank off ). What would be a decent torque ? didn;t think about it before, just tighten it up by hand.

[Beyond Rational]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's entirely possible the crankarm is now distorted from use without being fully secured.

[Tampon]

Beyond Rational said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it's entirely possible the crankarm is now distorted from use without being fully secured.

Really ? seems excessive, the crank is the part between the pedal and the crankset right ? a almost 1inch thick piece of metal with a hole to allow the bolt to go though ? I was more worried about the female thread in the crankset, but the thread was gone from the bolt so hoping that was fine.

Have I got things wrong ( entirely possible as I know dilly about bikes ) and how would I tell if what you say has happened has ?

[Beyond Rational]

They tend to go oval when they get the chance to wobble around, the bottom bracket generally being made from steel, distorts the alu crankarm.

It'll all go back together, but it may never stay tight for very long.

[Tampon]

Ok that makes sense, Crank arms aren;t expensive though so that isn;t a problem. It is the bolt and where to get it from.

[Beyond Rational]

It is probably* a bog standard 8mm crank bolt which you can get off of ebay for a couple of quid.


Unless it is some bizarre budget crankset no-one has ever heard of, or is designed to be un-serviceable.

[Tampon]

Beyond Rational said:

It is probably* a bog standard 8mm crank bolt which you can get off of ebay for a couple of quid.


Unless it is some bizarre budget crankset no-one has ever heard of, or is designed to be un-serviceable.

BG you have been a font of knowledge, thankyou very much, the pedal was wobbly for a while before it flew off so might have done it in a bit.

[shalmaneser]

Any decent bike shop should have a replacement crank for about a tenner and a pair of crank bolts for £2 or so. Fitting no more than £10.

Let this be a lesson to you! Check your crank bolts regularly!