Old school MTB wrenching help please

This week I managed to get a replacement drivetrain for my '95 Kona Lava Dome which I use for commuting. So I have changed the cassette, broken the old chain and measured up the new one and removed the chainring bolts, slipped off the big ring and then found I couldn’t get the middle 'ring over the crank arm!

How do I get it off? I tried undoing the crank arm bolt but the arm don’t come off (and I don’t have any BB tools). Am I missing something obvious? I think I have tried every possible position to ease it over but nothing seems to work.

Help please.

Rubics chainring.

I assume you have the crank off of the bike - right? If so, I also assume that you do not have a removable spider (not common back then). So, what you do is just turn the chain ring about 15mm or so in either direction and it comes over one arm, then drop it to the center of the crank and the other side fits over.

That make sense?

The crank arm is press fit onto the BB spindle. You probably need a crank arm puller (~$10).

Ha! How did I miss that? I didnt even read the part (glossed over) and asked if the arm was off the bike. Would not assume one would try to get that ring off with out the chaing ring being off of the bike.

yes, the crank arm must come off the bike.

to do that, you need to get or borrow a crank arm puller. i am sure many of your cycling buddies have them.

Cheers, guys. No commuting for me tomorrow. Off to ring around for a puller.

Thanks all.