I purchased a Spin Doctors crank puller at an outdoors store when I was a few states away. I came home and used it, and the pin in the middle bent in half. I was using it properly, the metal was just real soft and it was like it melted when I turned it. I managed to get the cranks off, but the parts of the tool came apart as well.
I contacted Performance, and they said they don't guarantee their parts unless they sold them through Performance directly. I guess it is buyer beware then? Just a heads up.
The closest one is about 2-3 hours away, but I'll keep that in mind when I travel, maybe I can stop off in a city that one is in. Thanks for the tip, I didn't know we even had any stores in our state, I used their map and found a few that might be feasible.
I had it screwed all the way in, and as I turned it to push the cranks off, it just basically gave (although I thought that was the cranks coming off. I kept turning and they did come off, but then the tool came apart and was also bent.
Nice, poor engineering mated with sub-par materials ut:
Consumers really have to watch out nowadays. Lots of cheap tools are just plain dysfunctional at best and dangerous at worst. For high stress tools like crank removers and chain breakers Park definitely gets my money :thumbsup:
Anyhow, I don't really care too much about a warranty as much as the fact that I used it ONCE and it came apart. My other tools that are Park are like tanks, so they get my business from now on. I just happened to see it, and in fact in my mind I thought it was a Pedros tool (other stuff I have from them has been decent) so I didn't think about it breaking or getting a return.
I guess I get the final say however, I ordered the same tool from Performance and will return the broken one. The second one will most likely break but who knows.
Was it hollow spindle BB like below?
Then I can see that tool will bend, For hollow spindles you need headless allen bolt (like below) installed into the spindle so tool can push against it.
On the other hand crank pullers are around $15 so I would recommend getting another one, but Performance has a excellent return/exchange policy I am pretty sure they will exchange it for you at the local store.
I think I understand what you are saying but that is how the tool is made already. It still worked correctly in it's function, it just failed and bent because the metal was weak, not because it was the wrong tool.
If you have a hollow spindle like shown above I could see the end of the puller slipping partially into the middle so that it's cock-eyed a bit. That would most likely cause the type of damage that you saw.
Possibly, but the type of crank I have is specifically listed on the front. If I thread it in properly, and follow the exact instructions listed, then the tool failing is the tools fault, not mine.
Regardless, the metal is obviously weak if my tightening can completely bend it with very little pressure, and I've ordered another one to return this one for.
In the future if I have a hollow spindle, are you suggesting putting something else in the middle to prevent this? I've used other pullers and never had this type of issue with a different brand tool made in the same fashion.
If the crank you have is specifically listed as being compatible with the tool then the tool is definitely at fault. I agree that the tool seems weak if it bent like that, especially while being used the first time for it's intended purpose.
I've never worked with hollow spindles like that before, so I have no direct experience, but yeah it seems to me that having something with more surface area for the tool to push against would be preferable. The above posted indicates that they're threaded to except a screw as shown. That would help to make sure the end of the tool stayed flat.
Like I said I don't have any real world knowledge, the only cranks that I've pulled thus far are square taper. Just speculation based on using several different types of automotive pullers over the years.
I think it was in a discussion where some guy was bashing a manufacturer after they hooked him up with 2 replacement frames. Not directly related to your post at all, I just throw quotes into my sig line for a while when I find humor or irony in them. IMO your tool should be under warranty. A tool that isn't capable of performing it's only task is not something the customer should be responsible for
Check your BB for damaged thread
Crank removal from hollow BB spindle requires installation of headless allen bolt into crank bolt location, this needed for both Park tool and Spindoctor, so tool can push against solid surface and not damage the threads:madman: , since edge of the hollow spindle is very narrow.
My SpinDoctor crank puller came with that headless allen bolt:thumbsup: .
If you do not want use crank puller you can replace your crank bolts with self extacting crank bolts like shown below.
Install bolts first, then install threaded washers in place where crank puller would go over the bolt, then when you start loosening the bolt it will be pushing against the threaded washer and pop the crank. you need special tool or very narrow bent needlenose pliers to install threaded washers.
Check your BB for damaged thread
Crank removal from hollow BB spindle requires installation of headless allen bolt into crank bolt location, this needed for both Park tool and Spindoctor, so tool can push against solid surface and not damage the threads:madman: , since edge of the hollow spindle is very narrow.
My SpinDoctor crank puller came with that headless allen bolt:thumbsup: .
If you do not want use crank puller you can replace your crank bolts with self extacting crank bolts like shown below.
Install bolts first, then install threaded washers in place where crank puller would go over the bolt, then when you start loosening the bolt it will be pushing against the threaded washer and pop the crank. you need special tool or very narrow bent needlenose pliers to install threaded washers.
I don't know about the Spin Doctor tool, but the Park Tool crank puller for Octalink/ISIS cranks doesn't need anything threaded in first. You just thread the tool in and go.
I purchased a Spin Doctors crank puller at an outdoors store when I was a few states away...
Anyhow, I don't really care too much about a warranty as much as the fact that I used it ONCE and it came apart. My other tools that are Park are like tanks, so they get my business from now on. I just happened to see it, and in fact in my mind I thought it was a Pedros tool (other stuff I have from them has been decent) so I didn't think about it breaking or getting a return.
I guess I get the final say however, I ordered the same tool from Performance and will return the broken one. The second one will most likely break but who knows.
I don't know about the Spin Doctor tool, but the Park Tool crank puller for Octalink/ISIS cranks doesn't need anything threaded in first. You just thread the tool in and go.
Me thinks that something that thread in might turn with the puller ?!
P.S.: Self extracting bolts kick ass.
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