Many unicycles are made with cotterless cranks, which are also called square taper cranks because the cross-section of the spindle interface is square.

Here are some of the most popular questions regarding these types of cranksets, from around the internet, all compiled and answered in one place.

What Are Square Taper Cranks?

A square taper crankset is a type of crankset wherein the tapered interface for the bottom bracket hub-axle interface is square in cross section.

This interface is simple to manufacture, keeping costs low, making it popular on affordable and beginner unicycles. It’s also not particularly uncommon on bikes.

The design also makes installation somewhat easy, too.

Are There Any Advantages to This Design?

Besides the cost advantages, square taper cranksets are both lightweight and very strong. Another cool feature is that you can remove and reinstall them as many times as you like, and as long as you ensure a tight fit, the interface will reform itself, without developing play.

Are Square Taper Cranks Cross-Compatible?

No, not all square taper cranksets are cross-compatible. Compatibility is determined largely by the length of the bottom bracket spindle.

Do You Need to Grease Square Taper Cranks?

There’s more than one manner of thinking here. Some suggest you don’t need grease and that grease will only attract dirt, sand and dust that will cause abrasive damage over time. Others suggest that a “dry” bolt won’t afford a good fit. Either way, whether you grease the bolt or not, do it only once, when tightening the bolt, then leave it alone. Do not reapply grease.

What’s the Problem with Riding with a Loose Crankset?

Never ride your unicycle with square taper cranksets improperly installed or loose. If you do, the corners of the squares will round off under pressure, deforming the interface and causing irreversible damage. Once this happens, you need to replace the entire crankset and you might need to replace the bottom bracket, too.

Are Shorter or Longer Cranks Better?

Though this isn’t necessarily related only to square taper cranksets, it is a common question so we decided to drop it here. Shorter crankets result in more agile, nimble handling, though they are less forgiving and can be harder to control. Longer crankets afford greater leverage and therefore more cranking power, but they don’t offer the same agile handling as shorter crankets. Really, it’s about what you prefer, as both longer and shorter cranksets offer distinct advantages.

How Tight Should the Bottom Bracket Be?

The short answer is “tight”enough that it won’t come loose, but if you’re looking for an actual torque rating, somewhere around 30 ft-lbs, though this isn’t a science.

To Learn More About Square Taper Cranks (Or for Other Unicycle Parts)

Was your question on square taper cranksets not answered here? Are you looking for unicycle parts? Either way, visit Unicycle.com. They carry a massive inventory of unicycle parts, along with unicycle tools and safety gear for riders who practice all disciplines. Visit their website or get in touch with their customer service for more information.

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