There’s a fierce debate over whether the interface between a square taper spindle and crankarm should be lubricated or not. Adding to that, everyone seems to have their own take on the issue. Here’s some opinions I’ve heard thus far:

1. Perfectly clean and dry.
2. Slathered with grease
3. Extremely thin coating of grease (I use antiseize, but this is my own preferred technique)
4. Oiled

Proponents of installing cranks dry say it’s to stop the spindles from excessively deforming the crankarm. Proponents of lubricated install say it’s to ensure the the crankarm gets smoothly and consistently pressed onto the spindle, and to prevent galling/corrosion. Everything else falls in between these two extremes.

Is there a definite best practice?

I honestly can’t believe this question hasn’t been asked already!

There’s a fierce debate over whether the interface between a square taper spindle and crankarm should be lubricated or not. Adding to that, everyone seems to have their own take on the issue. Here’s some opinions I’ve heard thus far:

1. Perfectly clean and dry. (Use solvent to clean the spindle.)
2. Coated with a complete layer of grease.
3. Extremely thin coating of grease. This entails putting some grease on, then wiping it all off again to leave just the thinnest layer of grease remaining.
4. Oiled

Proponents of installing cranks dry say it’s to stop the spindles from excessively deforming the crankarm. Proponents of lubricated install say it’s to ensure the the crankarm gets smoothly and consistently pressed onto the spindle, and to prevent galling/corrosion. Everything else falls in between these two extremes.

Is there a definite best practice?

I honestly can’t believe this question hasn’t been asked already!