Big Problem with my Street Strider

Edit Subject

Hi Keith, it sounds like the crank bolt may be reaching its limit without fully pressing the crank arm on to the spindle. There should be a washer, 21 mm OD x 15 mm ID x 1 mm thick, that is between the crank bolt and the crank arm. Do you have the washer?

This a problem that has occurred but rarely and I haven't been able to get my hands on one yet to fully analyze the problem. Please let me know if the washer is present. dave@streetstrider.com

Also, when the crank gets loose has it rounded out the square taper shaft of the crank arm?

Thanks for your help
Dave

Hi Keith, I was wondering if my earlier comment and questions were of any help and if you are still having issues with the crank bolt.
Thanks, Dave

Once the pedal is ran loosely, both the crank arm and the spindle should be replaced. Having 33 years of bicycle repair experience, I have found that the loose crank arm wears the spindle so if you just put on a new crank arm, the worn spindle will wreck that too. When the SS is assembled and reassembled after folding, the fixing bolt must really be cranked down to avoid this problem. Most people will not get it tight enough unless they have a fairly long handled Allen wrench and really reef on if. Bill at LIfestyle Sports 1-800-666-9198 We love the Street Striders!

The crank arm is forged from aluminum alloy and the BB spindle is machined from alloy steel and then hardened. A loose crank arm may damage the square taper shaft of the crank arm but it is not likely that the much harder steel spindle will be damaged. If the crank arm/BB spindle connection always has some grease and the crank arm is aligned correctly when screwed on to the specified torque with the long 8mm allen wrench, this connection should be able to be taken apart and secured many times if not indefinitely without damaging the parts.

I own torque wrenches and a set of allen sockets. What is the recommended torque for this bolt?

The recommended torque for a crank bolt, as given on page 18 of the manual, is 350 inch*lbs or 29 ft*lbs or 39 N*m. One of the most important parts of the procedure is making sure there is grease on the BB spindle and the crank arms are 180 degrees apart so it goes on all the way and does not have any play. If it starts to move while striding it will start to round the inside of the crank arm and then it is hard to get it secured properly because the square taper faces won't match as well.