Help: Allen wrench stuck in spider bolt

[turbolego]

I have allen wrenches with the rounded head (aka ball driver), and I stuck it in the spider in order to be able to pedal backwards to clean my chain. Well, I didn't think about the fact that since it wobbles on its head, it will be pushed off axis by the crank, and now its stuck.

Tried hammering it outwards, and nothing. Any ideas? I'm hoping I don't have to take the whole thing apart in order to back the crank off the spider/chainring. I actually don't know much about the anatomy of the bottom bracket area. It's a 22 Turbo Levo.


EDIT: I guess I could just dremel it off. Anything less drastic than that?

 

[irie]

Just cut it off, but put something directly underneath to stop metal dust dropping on the crank shaft.

 

[levity]

Just cut it off, but put something directly underneath to stop metal dust dropping on the crank shaft.

Dynamite would work!

or you could take thirty seconds and remove the crank arm

 

[irie]

Dynamite would work!

or you could take thirty seconds and remove the crank arm

But I think you need a crank puller to do that?

 

[Spangoolies]

I think praxis cranks use self extracting bolts so just turn the inner bolt anti-clockwise and arm will pull itself off.

 

[irie]

I know nothing about Praxis cranks.

 

[turbolego]

Uh so when I do that the bolt unbolts to a point where it touches the inside of the hex shape in the crank... and then gets stuck. What the heck?

I dont see any other bolts of any kind. I thought perhaps both sides need to be unbolted, but the opposite side, same thing. Unbolts until it touches the housing, then no more. Cranks don't budge.

Edit: sorry, just needed to do some legwork. Found the manual, just had to keep going on non drive side.

 

[steve_sordy]

Cut off the stuck Allen key as close to the crank as you dare, then use a spanner on the stub to move the Allen key back and forth to loosen it.

 

[Overkillit]

I have this bike and I'm glad you figured this out. It's a bit unnerving backing out the crank bolt because it can be very tight indeed but it does pull the arm off and get easier as you go. Cranking it back down is also a challenge because of how tight it can feel compared to being fully seated - hard to tell when these haven't been removed too many times.

 

[turbolego]

I have this bike and I'm glad you figured this out. It's a bit unnerving backing out the crank bolt because it can be very tight indeed but it does pull the arm off and get easier as you go. Cranking it back down is also a challenge because of how tight it can feel compared to being fully seated - hard to tell when these haven't been removed too many times.

Yeah I broke out the torque wrench because I was worried about it. Turns out I hadn't torqued hard enough by hand. But it was close.