Why does nobody talk about the 8mm hex bolt on old Shimano cranks?

Had a customer bring in a 2005 Trek 1200 last week with a creaky bottom bracket. Spent 20 minutes trying to get the crank off with a standard puller before I realized the self-extracting bolt was seized solid. Ended up having to drill it out and replace the whole crank spindle, which cost the guy an extra $75 in parts. The whole job took over two hours when it should have been 30 minutes. Has anyone found a good way to free those up before they get that bad?

3 comments

3 Comments

xena11mo ago

Wait, you had to drill it out? That bolt was really that stuck? I've had them tight before but never that bad. What did you try first, just the puller? Did you hit it with any penetrating oil at all, or was it just totally fused?

blakem371mo ago

That bolt was basically welded after three days of PB Blaster and heat.

lane.cameron1mo ago

@xena1 yeah, that thing was hopeless from the start lol.