It can also damage those Octalink b/b's.

 

Success!!! AFter a week long soak in release fluid, both cranks popped off no problem.

One of the cages in the bearings had rusted away due to a missing seal on the cartridge.

One new sealed cartridge later, the cranks now spins without a wobble and with so much less resistance, I'll be adding to my average speed!

Steve

 

For next time get a proper crank extractor not that Halfords thing, one where the centre is turned by a spanner

 

Did any of the advice here help? Or was it just rusted up?

When you rebuild, put the cranks back on the B/B smothering the joint with Copper Slip.

 

It helped in so much as I knew I was doing the right thing after reading what was on here, just needed a bit more umph - and the small end of the extractor!

Lots of copper slip on all the threads and crank axles.

You get a lot of satisfaction fixing things yourself

Steve