How to Tighten the Crank on a Bike

Pry the plastic protector cap from the crank arm with a wide-bladed slotted screwdriver. The protector cap covers the hex-head bolt that holds the crank arm to the crank and keeps the crank tight. Some older bicycle models may have a threaded dust cap, and you can remove the dust cap with a hex key.

Insert a hex key into the hex-head bolt. If you have an older, male-threaded spindle, fit a metric socket and socket wrench over the bolt. Turn the bolt clockwise to tighten the crank.

Replace the plastic protector cap onto the crank arm.

Tighten the other side of the crank by repeating the steps on the opposite crank arm.

Remove the nuts from the cotter bolts that thread through the crank with an adjustable wrench. A worn cotter can cause a loose crank.

Position a cotter pin press over the crank with the bolt attached to the press against the threaded end of the cotter bolt. Finger tighten the press bolt clockwise on the cotter pin press until you can no longer turn it with your fingers. Continue to turn the cotter pin press bolt with an adjustable wrench to push the cotter bolt from the crank.

Cut a short piece of metal pipe with a hacksaw to fit the distance from the floor to the crank if you do not have access to a cotter pin press. Position one end of the pipe where it sits over the non-threaded end of the cotter bolt. Wedge the opposite end of the pipe against the floor to support the crank. Strike the threaded end of the cotter bolt as hard as possible with a hammer to drive it from the crank.

Position a drive pin punch against the cotter bolt if the end is sheared off from damage or from attempting to drive it from the crank with a hammer. Hold the drive pin punch with vise grip or locking pliers to keep from accidentally hitting your fingers. Strike the dive pin punch with the hammer until it drives the cotter bolt from the crank.

Drill a 1/4-inch hole into the center of the cotter bolt with a 1/4-inch metal drill bit and a power-drill if the drive pin fails to drive the cotter bolt from the crank. Place the drive pin punch against the cotter bolt once again. Strike it with a hammer to push the cotter bolt from the crank.

Heat the crank with a propane torch as a last resort if all other options have failed to remove the cotter bolt. Don't heat the crank so much that it becomes red hot, only hot enough where you could no longer touch it. Place the drive pin against the cotter bolt once again and strike it with a hammer to remove it from the crank.

Apply axle grease to a new cotter bolt. Position the cotter pin press over the crank with the bolt attached to the cotter pin press against the non-threaded end of the cotter bolt. Finger-tighten the press bolt counterclockwise on the cotter pin press until you can no longer turn it with your fingers. Continue to turn the cotter pin press bolt with an adjustable wrench to push the cotter bolt into the crank. Insert the cotter bolt into the crank and tap it into the crank with the hammer if you do not have a cotter pin press

Place the nut onto the cotter and tighten it with the adjustable wrench. Do not over tighten the nut, as you could strip the threads on the bolt.