Crank square taper hole too large - options?

"A Muzi" wrote in message
cut
Since lefts fail much more frequently than rights, any LBS which services
bicycles will have a selection of left arms. We buy them in tens. Although
it may not be aesthetically identical pretty much any arm the same length
will do, usually under $20.

FWIW...a word of caution, it may be worthwhile taking the old example
with you. I bought a new left crank three or four years ago. Fitted
it only to find that the left and right cranks were only 90 degrees
apart instead of 180.

Andrew Webster

On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 15:42:36 GMT "Phil Holman"
wrote:

Use the top of a food can. Cut a rectangle and bend it at 90 degrees to
contact two of the four flats.

I work with a fellow who did exactly this with a piece of alum can
several years ago. He's an amazingly strong rider and has had no
problems with it over the years. I had my doubts, but his experience
is a better data point than my concern.

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Jim Adney
Madison, WI 53711 USA
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I work with a fellow who did exactly this with a piece of alum can
several years ago. He's an amazingly strong rider and has had no
problems with it over the years. I had my doubts, but his experience
is a better data point than my concern.

Given that in most cases we're talking about aluminium cranks and square
holes, I'd have a really hard time figuring the aluminium cans to be of
not strong enough material. Might want to make sure the coke is thoroughly
not on there any more though, what with the urban legend concerning coke's
corrosiveness. The only possible issue with coke can shims I can see is in
situations with significant (flex) movement wearing through the shims --
but that flex would wear away the crank hole anyway, as I'm sure all of us
has seen at one point or another when a crankbolt happened to be
less-than-optimally torqued.

Jasper

For further proof of the corrosiveness of coke, read any of the assorted
"thoughts" of Gene Daniels, otherwise known as "datakoll".

--
Ted Bennett
Portland OR